Draft 5/12/09

The concept of the Library Commons is based on the first principle of the campus Strategic Academic Plan. "[W]e increasingly view UCSC as a single unit, rather than focusing primarily on the multiple small units of which it is constituted. By sharing and building upon the strengths of each unit, a greater product can be produced than providing the sum of each small unit."  It is in that spirit that the Commons will support and underscore the campus commitment "to academic engagement and a quality learning experience at all levels" by providing a central place on campus for IT and the Library to collaboratively facilitate learning and research across all media.

The Library Commons combines technology and specifically-designed space in the library to encourage and enhance research and collaboration. The Commons provides furniture, rooms, equipment, technical and library reference support to encourage both traditional and new practices in scholarship, teaching, and learning. While the initial focus of the Library Commons is in the McHenry and the Science and Engineering libraries, the Library Commons could exist anywhere scholarly collaboration is fostered by technology and library science expertise. The UCSC community actively participates in shaping Commons services by providing feedback and input to the Commons management team.

For undergraduate students:

The Commons is where to get what's needed for any academic project.  Students have access to computers, software, research materials, media, and staff support all in one building.  They can print from library computers, or from their own laptops.  Students have access to electrical power and a robust wireless network throughout the library-not just the Library Commons area. They choose from a variety of study spaces: comfortable chairs they can arrange themselves as in a lounge, large seminar tables, and group study rooms with white boards and large monitors for sharing of laptop screens.  Students feel like they own the services and spaces in the library and they regularly provide suggestions for improvements.

For graduate students and faculty:

The Commons is where to get what's needed for any academic project. Faculty and graduate students meet with librarians for advanced research help and finding instructional content such as images, video, sound, and research texts.  They work with IT and instructional development specialists to develop course materials and integrate library materials into the collaborative learning environment.  They have access to computers, software, research materials, media and staff support all in one building. They use the different study spaces in the library to informally engage with their students and colleagues, as well as work individually in proximity to expert support staff.

For campus academic support units:

The Commons supports student success by providing spaces appropriate for tutoring, managing adaptive technologies for students with disabilities, and collaborating with academic support units for new service delivery models that directly support instruction and academic research.

For the Santa Cruz community:

The Commons is a space for accessing the library's digital and print collections.  Community members can access computers, software, research materials, printers and media in one building.

For the administrators of the Commons:

As a joint venture between the library and ITS, the Commons a model for cross-campus cooperation.  Different campus organizations work collaboratively to provide a consistent experience for students and faculty with regard to learning, technology, and research support services across the campus.  The Commons integrates in design and function ITS and Library spaces, information resources, technology resources, and support services so that patrons experience a seamless environment for research and learning.

Tags:

Academic Support, Academics, Faculty, Learning, Students, Commons, Learning Space, Libraries

A Vision of the UCSC Library Commons        Draft SCP 9/2008

The Library Commons is learning space that leverages technology and space design to encourage and enhance research and collaboration. The Commons provides furniture, rooms, equipment, and staffing support to encourage both traditional and new practices in scholarship, teaching, and learning. As a joint venture between the library and ITS, it is a model for cross-campus cooperation.  Different campus organizations work together collaboratively to provide a consistent experience for students and faculty with regard to learning, technology, and research support services across the campus.

The Commons integrates in design and function the ITS’ and the Library's spaces, information resources, technology resources, and support services so that patrons experience a seamless environment for research and learning.

The Commons offers a variety of accommodations: individual workstations, areas for informal group study, and small group project and presentation rooms, permitting students to choose different levels of interaction with their peers in a technologically rich yet informal environment.  Services for the Commons are available in both McHenry Library and the Science & Engineering Library and throughout the campus.

Goals:

• The learning spaces are flexible and adaptable, and they can change with student needs and advances in technology.
• Students have the choice of a variety of accommodations and environments depending on their learning and research needs, as well as their personal preferences such as collaborative group space, active and noisy areas, soft furniture, and individual quiet study space.
• Students have access to electrical power and a robust wireless network for laptop computers and other devices at every workstation or table in the Commons.
• Computer hardware, software, and the support for them are highly integrated into all aspects of the learning spaces.
• Students have a sense of ownership of the Commons.  They actively participate in shaping its services by providing feedback and input to the Commons management team.
• The Commons is a “destination of choice” for studying, research, and collaborative group work for students and faculty on campus.  The Commons capitalizes on all available natural light and has very comfortable furniture in an IT-rich environment. 

Next steps:  Develop use cases for students, graduate students, new faculty, returning faculty, community member (alumni, donors, friends).  Cases will be brief and abstract enough to relate to two years down the road.

Users can use laptops anywhere in the building.

Expert assistance:  librarians, instructional development specialists, IT desktop support

Access to specialized software and hardware:  media equipment and production software

Virtual and physical collaboration space (virtually through LMS or other service)

Sophomore's account of the Commons:  "The library was one-stop shopping spot for any academic project, and I didn't even need to bring my laptop.  And all the help I needed was there."  I did a mashup for my History 176 class and everything I needed was there.  They have great group study rooms with ways to project my laptop screen onto the wall.  It's MY Library.  I was able to print from my own laptop.

Faculty's account of the Commons:  "I was able to find out all the resources available to me."  I was able to work with my students in a comfortable space with lots of room for collaboration with access to IT help and research help from librarians.  I'm giving a presentation at a conference next month, I was able to print my posters on the Common's large format printers.

Community member's account of the Commons:  I was able to get to the digital collection of the library.  I was able to print.

Align goals with campus academic plan.  One product - develop costing model and budget for these services.