Speaker: Barbara Tierney, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Presentation Summary: Do libraries innovate? Is there a "library sandbox" where innovative ideas are being tested?
In the forthcoming ALA Editions book "Transforming Library Service through Information Commons: Case Studies for the Digital Age" a strong case is made for the Information Commons as an arena for library innovation.
Today's presentation examines the Information Commons as an arena for testing innovative ideas in technology, staffing, and scope of service delivery. It also traces the evolution of the Information Commons as it has been driven by changes in user needs, pedagogical theory, technology, and society (from computer lab, to Information Commons, to Learning Commons, to Teaching/Research Commons).
David Lewis's 2007 article "A strategy for academic libraries in the first quarter of the 21st Century" and the 2005 report of Symposium 2010 "The academic library in 2010" will be discussed with regard to their vision of the Information Commons as the preferred learning environment for the digital age. In addition, we will look at "lessons learned" from selected academic libraries (showcased in "Transforming Library Service through Information Commons") as these institutions innovatively steer their respective commons into their second iterations.
The presentation will conclude with a power point featuring images of innovative commons at a number of outstanding academic institutions including the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library, Temple University's TECH Center, Emory University's Cox Computing Center, North Carolina State University Library's Learning Commons, University of Massachusetts Amherst Learning Commons, SUNY Binghamton, Guelph University, Indiana University Bloomington, and others.
Presentation History:
The Information Commons: Arena for Innovation: E-Info Global Symposium 2007, Huntsville, AL
Exploring and Forging Collaborative Relationships Between an Information Commons and Others on Campus: Washington 2007
The Commons - Libraries as Dynamic Learning Spaces: New Orleans 2006
Information Commons: Staffing Models & Staff Training: San Antonio 2006
From Information Commons to Learning Commons: Minneapolis 2005
Information Commons Services for Learners and Researchers: Inforum Prague 2005
Information Commons 101: Orlando 2004
Information Commons 101: San Diego 2004
Information Commons Panel: ACRL Charlotte 2003
