Information Commons Student Assistant Program at Butler U.

Butler U. (Indianapolis) has a unique model for what they call the Information Commons. It's a collaboration between the Libraries and the Center for Academic Technologies and it is staffed by "highly trained student staff members."

As described on the IC website: "The program intends to provide Butler students with research and academic technology support directly connected to course activities, student learning outcomes and pedagogical innovations through highly trained student staff members. Information Commons student staff members are trained in library research methods, academic technology tools, and consultation skills. They provide support for students, faculty and staff at the Center for Academic Technology and the Irwin Library through in-class and evening training sessions and 1:1 consultations." http://bit.ly/uksfOc

Two Butler administrators, Julianne Miranda, Senior Director of Butler's Center for Academic Technologies, and Sally Neal, Associate Dean for Public Services, will present "Information Commons Student Assistant Program: Meeting a Campus's Classroom Technology and Information Literacy Needs Anywhere, Anytime" at the EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference in Chicago,on Tuesday, March 27. 2012. http://bit.ly/s9nuQq

Building St. Mary's Learning Commons

Michael Chen (Executive Director, Academic Technology) posted a Prezi visual which does a very nice job of explaining the concept and the process that will result in a new learning commons at St. Mary's University in San Antonio TX.
http://tinyurl.com/6wl8qdu

GWU Gelman Library Renovation - Project Director

Update to an earlier post.  George Washington U. has advertised for a Project Director (Learning Commons and Renovation) to manage the $16M project.  Seems to be a permanent position.  "PMP certification is a big plus."

From Learning Commons to Learning Outcomes: Assessing Collaborative Services and Spaces

Don Beagle, who wrote an early, influential article* and a book** on the information commons, is the author of an ECAR Research Bulletin reviewing six recent user studies of the commons model. http://bit.ly/oWxK4Y


From the abstract on the EDUCAUSE website: "While the studies used varying methodologies, their cumulative results indicate that the commons model cannot be evaluated by focusing only on design aspects of “learning spaces” or perceptions of “library as place.” These features must be balanced by qualitative reviews of service effectiveness and quantitative measures of service delivery. This bulletin concludes with a consideration of change theory as a possible means to extend service evaluations and spatial appraisals to assessments of learning outcomes." http://bit.ly/oWxK4Y


If your college or university is not a member of EDUCAUSE, maybe you should suggest joining.


*"Conceptualizing an Information Commons," Journal of Academic Librarianship 25, no.2. (March 1999): 82-89.
**The Information Commons Handbook, Neal-Schuman, 2006.

On the Horizon - Canadian Learning Commons Conference

Call for Proposals – 6^th Canadian Learning Commons Conference

New Media, New Fluencies and Life Skills Development:  Preparing Learners for the 21^st Century

We invite program submissions for the 6^th Canadian Learning Commons Conference, May 7 - 9, 2012 to be held at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Details at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/clcc2012/