Information Commons &

the Future of

Reference Desk

presented by:Sonia M. Gementiza

Objectives

• To be familiar with the environment of commons

• To understand the concept & characteristics of information common

• To gain knowledge in the planning & creation of space for common

• To know the role of reference in the common environment.

Introduction

• success stories of information commons established in colleges and university libraries.

• a new space which is wildly popular with students.

• changes are good to plan new IC’s. • an innovative concept embraced by many

academic libraries• integrated service facility which provides an

environment for teaching, learning and practicing both information technology and information literacy.

• A dynamic vision of service.

Information Commons

• Definition– a section of land belonging to or used by

a community as a whole. (Webster’s II New College Dictionary)

– “a specific location designated to deliver electronic resources for research and production that is maintained by technically proficient staff”. (Cowgill, et al)

• Definition

– “an online environment in which the widest possible variety of digital services can be accessed” and “a new type of physical facility specifically designed to organize workspace and service delivery around the integrated digital environment”. (Beagle, 1999)

• ARL identified three elements shared by most information commons.

– the availability of both research and computing assistance

– a “one stop shopping” location for a variety of library services

– a staffing model that includes “librarians, computing professionals and other public services staff.

• a place for students to interact, get technology support and research assistance, attend technology and research workshops or classes, and work in groups together or individually on course assignments. (Indiana University)

• an integrated service facility which provides an environment for teaching, learning and practicing both information technology and information literacy skills. (University of Calgary Library

• both information literacy program and a virtual space in which students, librarians and members of the teaching faculty explore new ways of integrating electronic resources and library research instruction into teaching and learning. (Iowa State University)

• combination of two key concepts of shared space

– a place that offers shared technology/work/study spaces

– a place that supports the distribution of as much full text of published scholarly information

Physical Commons + Virtual Commons = Information Commons

Concept

• an innovative concept adopted by many academic libraries to bring together in one location the technology and expertise necessary to support the information needs of the college community.

• a conceptual, physical and instructional space that involves an organizational realignment from print to the digital environment (Beagle,1999)

Characteristics

• Pervasive technology

• Group spaces

• User services not just information services

Planning an IC’s

• the concept development

• Design

• Implementation

Factors to be considered• Develop a vision/mission related to learning• Conduct a need assessment• Develop goals• Design an assessment plan• Determine appropriate partners• Define and gain resources• Determine the location• Define what you want users to be able to do• Define services to Offer• Determine the staff needs • Develop the floor plan• Plan the technology • Choose furniture (Most information commons

furniture has wheels for easy mobility)

Key Questions for Planners What is the purpose of the information commons? What faculty and student needs will be

addressed? What programs will we put into place that will

emphasize a link to learning? Which campus units will be involved, and how will

they work together? What kinds of hardware, software and seating

configuration are needed? What kinds of staff are needed? How will we promote the link of the information

commons to learning? How will we measure success?

Creating New Library Space

• transform all or part of their facilities into Information Common’s

(Eg. Vanderbilt University Peabody Library, University of Iowa Hardin Library, University of Texas at Austin)

University of Iowa Hardin Library

Multimedia Development Room

Help Desk in Bostock Library

Technology Commons in Bostock

University of Iowa Hardin Library

IC’s facility floor plan

• IC’s developed in other universities

– offer comfortable seating– current print & electronic newspapers– web access to many electronic news

resources– a large display screen featuring news from

around the world – group study rooms for graduate students– incorporating electronic thesis and

dissertation (ETD) software, guidelines and other resources

• IC’s encompass new model – support learning

• by integrating technology content and services in physical space.

• Transformation to IC’s model are suitable for undergraduate

• Individual components may adopted in college or department classroom

• Library can also develop web links and virtual displays

• With careful planning– collaborative learning space, not just a glorified

computing lab– a place to access, use and create information,

not just a reference area– transparent user services, not fiefdoms of

service points.

• require a large commitment of campus resources to develop and maintain.

• developing the requisite services and environment

Linking the Information Commons to Learning

• important of vision or mission statements are directly address with the relationship to the learning mission of the university.

– Ex. The University of Alberta Libraries Knowledge Common will become a unique learning hub integrating technology, information and expertise in order to best strengthen the teaching, research and learning opportunities that occur within the university community. The KM will become a focal point on campus where the elements of meeting, collaboration and discovery come together.

• IC’s creates an environment that nurtures learning activities outside classroom– reading – Exploring– Creating– Communicating

• web pages could foster close connection of its resources to learning by emphasizing how the content, hardware, software & space that it provides are useful for course projects.

• A librarian can seek and work with the faculty.

– Ex. In a course where students do oral history project

• Information on the hardware, software and services in the IC’s useful for course project could be embedded.

Reference Services in the Commons Environment• Advent of new technology, provision of

new services & spaces might changes the function of the librarian

• Training and support activities should be identified– Ex. Librarian with knowledge in Adobe

photoshop

• Continuing training must be provided– In-service– One-on-one “refresher” sessions– Self study opportunities

• New services should be designed in respond to new student learning styles

• Provision of collaborative spaces for small group study & research.

• Students needs for a place where they can work together should be observed by librarians (Baldwin 1999).

• With this scenario, the nature of reference service has also changed.

• Questions are more advanced

• Existence of IC’s mean more students are coming to the library.

• Awareness to different resources & services

• More question were asked where library personnel will experience teachable moments in person.

• Reference staff struggle to keep pace with the information available

• Library instruction instructional sessions have morphed

• As the year 2000, resources & services such as wireless access, e-books & virtual reference become fundamental service support

• Expectation of students & faculty has changes.

• Wireless access can be connected to their laptop & mobile.

• Library website reconfiguration to utilize teachable moment online.

Summary

• IC’s design as integrated service facility to support the learning needs.

• A place where the collaborative relationship of the information resources and IT began

• Where user is able to acquire new skills, have access to information and help when they need it.

• As the IC’s continue to develop– enhance service available– advancement of literacy skills must be a key

goal of the library.

• effective integration of information resources into comprehensive assignment must be a join forces

• A collaborative effort designed to increase competency– Identification & evaluation of information– Analysis & manipulation of data– Creation & presentation of products

• IC’s availability as new spaces are overwhelming popular with students and easy to understand.– Why?

• Because it recognizes & nurtures the ubiquitous nature of student’s relationship to technology, the need to connectivity & the desire to multitask.

• It also facilitates collaborative work, an increasingly common choice for class assignments

• Builds upon & support our faculty’s increasing use of technology & course management software.

• IC’s so far fetched & not possible with many & college libraries in the world.

• But we need to assess, modify & renovate the existing spaces.

• Collaboration with other offices & libraries for effective & full implementation of services.

Thank you!

Questions?