"The Battle over Library Spaces"

If you are about to embark on a commons project that involves co-locating services,  Rick Anderson, U. of Utah's Marriott Library, recommends eight principles "to bear in mind when faced with requests from other entities on campus to occupy space in the library."

1. The library does not belong to you

2. Say “yes” or “no” based on strategy, not defensiveness

3. Cooperation creates political capital

4. Begin all space-sharing relationships with a formal document… that clearly lays out rights and responsibilities of both parties.

5. Bear in mind that if the library hosts other services, patrons will likely experience them as “library services”

6. Don’t treat your guests like tenants, or even like guests; treat them like fellow citizens. 

7. Invite partners to meetings and events, maybe even on a recurring basis.

8. There will be blood. Clean it up promptly. 

Anderson's article, in two parts, appeared in Library Journal, March 27 and May 1, 2014