| The Learning Commons
Model: Determining Best Practices for Design, Implementation, and Service |
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Information Commons and Learning Commons Site Visits
Overview Wesleyan University is a highly selective, liberal arts college in Middletown, Connecticut with an FTE of 2700 undergraduates, about 700 graduate students and more than 300 faculty members. They have 15 librarians working in the three libraries on campus -- The Olin Memorial Library for Humanities and Social Sciences, the Science Library, and the Art Library. Although, Wesleyan is not a merged organization, they have successfully partnered with Information Technology to bring the necessary support services to the Information Commons. Wesleyan's Information Commons, which opened in 2006, currently resides within the Reference area of the library. This first phase of their Information Commons was funded through a $125,000 internal Wesleyan grant. It is a Pilot Project. Eventually, they hope to expand out into the reference area and upper floors as the Common's evolves and grows over time. The goal is to bring together academic support services and make it a one-stop service point for teaching, learning and research support. Support desks, centered between the Commons area and traditional reference reading desks, offer reference service, information technology support, and other academic support services provided through the SARN (Student Academic Resource Network) peer advisors. The Information Commons is located where the Card Catalog and Index tables used to be housed in the Campbell Reference Center. To serve their particular student body, Wesleyan has found that they need to provide a mix of quiet study spaces and technology equipped work areas.
Description of Services and Facilities In the Information Commons area there are three support units, all within close proximity of one another -- the Reference Desk, the Technology Help Desk and the Student Academic Resource Network (SARN) Help Desk. Technology Support and SARN are actually physically joined in a zigzag configuration, but have separate functionality and staff. They were able to retrofit the old index tables to make the technology and the SARN help desks. The Reference Desk is staffed by professional staff librarians and operates as a traditional reference service point.
The Information Commons has 12 computer workstations -- 9 PC and 3 Macintosh and also provides space for students to bring their own laptops. Of particular interest in this commons environment is the variety of layouts. Some areas are designed for individual work, while others can accommodate two or three people working together.
An additional 10 PCs are located at either end of the reading tables in the Reference Wing. The hallway leading into the reference wing has 4 computers built into the bookcases for quick online look-up. Other equipment includes 3 black & white printers, a color printer, and a scanner. The Reference area provides wireless laptop access.
In the future, Wesleyan hopes to find more space for group study rooms and develop a multimedia studio or lab with support staff. Within its organizational structure, Media Services is a function of Information Technology Services. Wesleyan would also like to spread its Information Commons concept into the Science Library.
The Library and Information Technology Departments are not organizationally merged at Wesleyan, but they have built a strong working relationship. ITS staff and services have been integrated into library operations through partnership. They do have an information technology person who works for the library, Dale Lee. Dale serves as the on-site coordinator for the Information Commons and oversees the Student Tech Consultant Manager who manages the 6 student tech consultants working in the Information Commons. The technology consultants are employed by Information Technology and have had I.T. tech experience prior to working in the Library's Commons. Dale is also responsible for coordinating with the Head of Reference, Information Management Systems, and the Associate Dean for Student Academic Resources who administers the SARN peer advisor program. The Commons lab area is managed by Information Technology Services. Although they do not have a Library Space Master Plan right now, they are working with Perry, Dean, Rogers Architects. The University Librarian is working closely with Information Technology Services and the University's Development Office to identify fund raising opportunities and align the Library's Information Commons with the University's strategic plan.
Collaboration and Partnerships To date, they have formed two strategic partnerships within the Information Commons -- Information Technology and Student Academic Resources. In the past, the library ran its own "mini IT department" but that has now evolved into a new working relationship between the Library and ITS. Staff have seen that these new partnerships can open up opportunities that they previously didn't know were possible. Technology consultants help students with productivity software, EndNote, Blackboard, Electronic Portfolio, Dragon server and other parts of Wesleyan's network, and with printer/computer equipment problems. The SARN peer advisors provide information and referral to Workshops and Centers, such as writing and math, tutoring services, peer advising, disability services, and language services, and to Professional Development Programs, such as the Career Resource Center, Health Professions Partnership Initiative, Pre-Law Advisor, and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program. Staff noted that Information Technology has evolved into a more service oriented department over the past few years and now has a stronger academic fit. They are hoping to find new ways of integrating the SARN partnership within the Information Commons Model. Staffing and Training Their goal is to work together effectively. Staff report that the transition has worked out beautifully. Although, the tech consultants still work within I.T. guidelines, they will defer to the library's policy in the Commons environment. Technology consultants are all given training that is designed to orient them to the library's culture. ITS is interested in the success of the Information Commons and has selected some of its best student workers to work at its Technology Support Desk. The Library has provided cross-training as necessary, but has found that it is not really an issue. The desks are close together for adequate referral and the student tech consultants are very good at discerning between a reference question and a need for technology support. Impact on Collections Wesleyan was able to locate their Information Commons in an area that formerly housed the Card Catalog and Index Tables. Just removing these items, offered enough space for them to begin to work toward a Learning Commons in the Library. They did not have to weed any collections, but are currently considering weeding the Reference Collection to allow them to put in more computers. Information Literacy & Technological Literacy in the Commons Environment At Wesleyan, personal research consultations are really taking off. They have found the one-to-one research consultation to be the most effective for their student population. The reference offices are conveniently located near the Reference Service Desk. They do not have an electronic classroom and report that there is a strong "anti-requirement" culture at their university, so it is not easy to fit library instruction into the curriculum.
Virtual Environment Wesleyan offers chat reference service from their Reference Desk, provides online research guides and tutorials from their web site and has a a separate virtual commons web page at http://www.wesleyan.edu/infocommons/ . The Visual Resources group is looking at several digitalization projects as well. Assessment Wesleyan has given careful thought to ongoing assessment of their Information Commons. Information Technology has developed a program that keeps detailed usage statistics for their support desk areas and offers several reporting features. Additionally, they collect user feedback about their Information Commons via a feedback form that explains the Commons and asks for comments and suggestions about how to improve the Commons. Questions asked include: 1. What did you use the Information Commons for? 2. Please comment on the services, resources and facilities provided in the Information Commons. What services, facilities, group or individual workspace, etc., would you like to see in future phases of the Commons? 3. Do you have any other comments or suggestions? The Olin Library Information Commons Activity Project is also utilized to "track how the workstations within the Information Commons are being use, and how this usage changes throughout the semester." During this project, student workers track activities at four different times throughout the day. Lessons Learned In designing their Information Commons they needed to respect student concerns and value their input. In their culture, students are still demanding traditional quiet spaces for study within their building. Because of this, they are moving more slowly and have kept most of the library space untouched. Fears of how staff would react to this service model were unfounded. Reference librarians have been very accepting of others providing services within their space. It has alleviated the need for librarians to provide technology support. The Information Commons did not disrupt staff or their spaces. The collaboration with ITS has been wonderful and the student technology consultants are really a bonus. They are still struggling with how to more holistically integrate academic student support services within their environment and work more closely with the SARN peer advisors. Observations Informing Best Practices Even if you don't have a big funding initiative or lots of space, you can effectively begin by building a smaller facility and building working relationships with campus partners. Staff enjoy working collaboratively in this new service model.
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