Overview

Roger Williams University, located in historic Bristol, Rhode Island is a private liberal arts school with selected professional programs.  RWU has 3840 full-time undergraduates and 840 graduate students and 209 full-time faculty members.  There are 10 full-time librarians working in the two undergraduate libraries (Main and Architecture) on campus.  The Law School Library is separately operated within the Law School.   Although, RWU is not a merged Library/IT organization, the Library is partnering with Information Technology to bring the necessary support services to the Learning Commons.  Staff from Academic Computing and Instructional Technology have offices within the Main University Library.

The Main University Library was built in 1991, just before the digital age when print collections and quiet study were still the Library's primary focus.  Fortunately, the original architects used an open floor plan on all three floors of the library which has allowed the space to be repurposed throughout the years. In the late 1990's the School of Education, found its home in the library.  Since that time, the School of Ed. has grown tremendously, consuming a great deal of space on the Library's second floor.  It is hoped that they will be relocating within the next couple of years. In 2000, the Center for Academic Development was also permanently relocated to the second floor of the Library.  This has been a convenient partnership as we move forward with the Learning Commons model.  Students find writing and math tutoring help within the Library building.  CAD also offers assistance to students with learning disabilities.

The first floor of the library had been utilized primarily for reference and periodical print collections, reference in one wing and periodicals in the other.  In 2002, a grant from the Champlin Foundation gave us our first library "computer lab".  The original configuration for this computer lab area can be seen in the construction photo below. Reference stacks were consolidated and removed from one area of the Reference wing to accommodate this open lab.  In 2004, a gift from alumnus Mary Tefft White offered an opportunity to create a cultural center for campus programs and events within the periodicals wing of the first floor.  Stacks were re-configured to allow for this new space.  Since that time we have experienced an ever increasing demand to offer more computer technology and student work space throughout the reference area and throughout the entire building.

In Summer 2007, it was decided that we would use available university monies to establish the first phase of our Learning Commons project.

Drawing on experiences and lessons learned during sabbatical site visits to 18 academic libraries, Roger Williams University Libraries began transitioning to the Learning Commons model in Summer/Fall 2007.  The first phase of our Learning Commons project entailed a repurposing of the Library's first floor that brought Information Technology services into this area.  Because of their emphasis on user services, four Information Technology staff members from Instructional Technology and Academic Computing were permanently relocated to the Library's first floor.  The reference wing was completely gutted.  Eleven full height double sided ranges of reference books, totally over 4000 linear feet were reduced by half, both in height and size of the collection, the reference desk was adapted to serve as an integrated service point for both reference and technology support, and four new staff offices were constructed.  Additionally, a $150,000 grant from the Champlin Foundation gave us the opportunity to build an Instructional Technology Development Center to help faculty integrate technology into their curriculum.

This photo shows old computer work tables (28 computers removed) arranged in a chevron pattern in one section of the reference wing.  The reference stacks that were located under the light ranges have been removed (they were occupying the whole area to the left.)  Also notice the construction in the forefront.  A 4 computer kiosk was removed from this area. The reference desk is to the right.	This photo gives a closer shot of the area that formerly contained ranges of full-height reference stacks.  The view out the front windows was completely obscured by stacks.
This photo shows carpet and most of the horizontal light ranges removed from the ceiling.  In order to accommodate our new design, recessed lights with hanging pendants around the perimeter of the room replaced this old lighting configuration.	Architect's layout for the Learning Commons

Description of Services and Facilities

In combining academic technology and library staff/resources we decided to integrate service points, increase the number of computers in the library from forty to over a hundred, and make additional software and hardware available to students in the Library.  Working with architects and designers throughout the summer, the first phase of the Learning Commons was nearly complete by the beginning of the Fall semester. 

One architectural feature of the building that remained was the central staircase which is immediately visible upon entering the building and separates the Information and Circulation Desks. The functions at the circulation desk today remain the same as they were before establishing the Learning Commons.  However, the former reference desk has been internally reconfigured and renamed, "The Information Desk" to accommodate both reference and technology support.  The reference librarian is stationed on the right closest to the patron entering the space and a student Learning Commons technology support assistant is stationed on the left -- closer to the print workstations.  Offices for Academic Computing staff are conveniently located behind the Information Desk.

Student Learning Commons Assistants play an important role in our Learning Commons.  We decided to combine former circulation, reference, and computer lab monitor student worker positions into one Learning Commons Assistant job.  This was a very ambitious project, which involved the blending of both academic computing and library student work study positions.  All students were interviewed and hired for this position with the understanding that they would be cross-trained and expected to work at both the Information Desk and Circulation Desk, as well as serve as computer lab monitors in the various computer labs across campus.  (Even though Academic Computing is now housed within the Library, they are still responsible for all campus computer labs).  It was an enormous undertaking, in terms of scheduling and training, but all of us involved, including our new student Learning Commons Assistants, agree that it has worked out for everyone's benefit.

Information Desk to the Left of the Central Staircase	Circulation Desk to the right of the Central Staircase
Externally, from the patron perspective, The Information Desk, looks the same.	This photo shows the interior view of the reference desk before it was gutted.  Although this desk was long, much of its space was consumed by shelving and it had multiple levels that were no longer working for us. It only had appropriate seating for one person and that desk height seating kept the librarian hidden from the public.
After gutting the interior of the former reference desk, one single counter height shelf was installed to allow 2 to 3 staff to work together, providing both reference and technology support.  Underneath the counter still needs to be finished off.	Printer and Scanners are located next to the Information Desk so that Student Learning Commons Assistants can help patrons using the equipment.

The reference wing of the library was completely transformed by this project.  Full height shelves that housed the reference collection and blocked the windows were removed, cut in half and reconfigured on the diagonal in five rows of varying lengths.  These rows house approximately 900 linear feet and 3 full height shelves were relocated to the periodicals wing to house approximately 1200 linear feet of reference books.

There are four areas of computers within this new Learning Commons area:  one large middle section in between the reference shelving, that contains 18 computer workstations, including 10 MACs;  one island near the front door with 6 computer workstations; a large area near the far windows with 28 workstations arranged in four groupings; and a collaborative section containing 6 computer work areas near the front windows.  Additionally there is one stand alone workstation designed for research consultations with the librarian and an ADA compliant workstation near the printers.

An additional 40 plus computers are available in carrels and on tables on the second and third floors.

Front area of Learning Commons closest to the Information Service Desk.	Middle of Learning Commons looking from front windows toward Information Desk.
Middle section of curving work stations.  This area has 10 MAC computers.	Opposite view of middle section (before students arrive)
Collaborative Computer Work Area	Island of 6 computers near front entrance
Large computer section near along side windows of first floor	Same large area, different angle.
Close-up of one grouping in large area without students.  Windows to ITDC seen in rear of photo.	Close-up of reference stacks that were cut in half and fitted with new counter tops.

Printing capabilities have been greatly enhanced in the new Learning Commons.  We have two Black/White and one Color LaserJet Printers.  Printing is free and defaulted to duplex.  Two scanners, one attached to a Macintosh computer and the other hooked up to a PC are available with high quality Epson color printers. 

New Print/Scan Workstations with free printing & scanning	Old card operated printer workstation

One of the initial components of the Learning Commons was the Instructional Technology Development Center.  Two instructional technologists work in this area to help faculty integrate technology into their lesson plans.  Technology in this area includes: video conferencing , video production, classroom capture systems, animation and graphics, digital photography, and multimedia presentation capabilities. This space also allows faculty and other staff members to practice their presentations.

ITDC	ITDC

Also on the first floor, is the electronic Library Classroom and the Mary Tefft White Cultural Center.  When the Library Classroom is not being used for instruction, we open up this lab to students for overflow computer use and group work.  Unfortunately, we do not have any group study rooms available at this time since all available space is consumed by faculty and staff offices for the School of Education.  The Mary Tefft White Cultural Center is an open space that is often used by groups of students when it is not scheduled for programs.