Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians

by Lynn D. Lampert, Coleen Meyers-Martin

Overview

Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides experienced and detailed research-based guidance for academic librarians and other professionals charged with creating a learning commons. Readers can follow the entire process of developing a library learning commons design and implementation plan from inception to post-occupancy planning and assessment.

This practical guide is designed to help librarians develop sound strategies for navigating the challenging issues that often emerge in launching a dynamic and collaborative new library learning commons space within a university or college setting.
Lampert and Meyers-Martin provide a practical guide, complete with examples and photos of award-winning learning commons designs. This book will help dedicated professionals identify best practices within today’s existing learning commons settings and get up to speed on how to best approach developing their own library’s new and innovative learning spaces.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442272637
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/24/2019
Series:	Practical Guides for Librarians , #55
Pages:	202
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Lynn D. Lampert is the coordinator of information literacy and instruction at California State University (CSU)–Northridge. Lynn served as a key member of the Oviatt Library’s Learning Commons Planning Team, which managed the $2.5 million learning commons renovation project. Lynn also helped develop and design the learning commons’s new makerspace area, which opened to students in the fall of 2014.

Coleen Meyers-Martin is coordinator of outreach services at the California State University (CSU)–Northridge’s Oviatt Library. In 2013, she coordinated a multifaceted marketing campaign that promoted the Library’s $2.5 million learning commons renovation to students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Donald Beagle

Preface

Acknowledgements



Chapter 1. Learning Commons Library Spaces

Chapter 2. Building Your Foundation

Chapter 3. Partnerships and Strategies for Successful Programming

Chapter 4. Architects, Designers, Contractors, and Budgets Oh My!

Chapter 5. Strategic Planning for Learning Commons Technology

Chapter 6. Choosing What Technology Goes into a Learning Commons

Chapter 7. Marketing and Promotion

Chapter 8. Teaching and Learning in a Learning Commons Space: Reference Services, Instruction, and Outreach

Chapter 9. Assessing Learning Commons Spaces and Reviewing Lessons Learned

Chapter 10. Successful Learning Commons Partnerships

Chapter 11. The Future of Library Learning Commons Spaces

Appendix A. Learning Commons Survey

Appendix B. Marketing Action Plan

Editorial Reviews

Those considering the daunting task of remodeling an academic library to create or redo a learning commons will find this volume tremendously helpful. Lampert (coordinator of information literacy) and Meyers-Martin (coordinator of outreach svcs., both California State Univ. [CSU]–Northridge) provide guidance on redesign projects. Beginning with a history of the learning commons model, this practical work also explores the impact on the campus community, programming and partnership strategies, the benefits of technology plans, marketing and promotion, the roles of reference and instructional services, and assessment methods and tools for postoccupancy. Also included are in-depth interviews with a learning commons architect, a designer, and a project manager; a learning commons survey that the authors used as part of their research for the book; and CSU–Northridge’s Oviatt Library’s marketing action plan. VERDICT A superb offering for academic librarians and library administrators, as well as for faculty and students in a library architecture and space planning course.—Susan E. Ketcham, Long Island Univ. Post Lib., Brookville, NY” —Library Journal

“Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librariansis an important resource for any library and campus that is considering creating a learning commons. The authors, Lynn D. Lampert and Coleen Meyers-Martin, have created a tool, as part of the Practical Guides for Librarians series that should be in every library’s professional reading collection. A well organized book. . . . Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librariansis an excellent resource and is highly recommended for every library planning a learning commons. This book would serve as an important reference tool in iSchool libraries.” —Public Services Quarterly

“In Creating a Learning Commons, the authors have skillfully distilled their own experience with developing a learning commons at California State University—Northridge into a well-researched and up-to-date guide to the growth and development of these innovative spaces. . . . With its mix of solid research, real-world examples, and practical ideas, Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians is an excellent contribution to the literature. It is a must-read for librarians and information professionals considering a new commons space for their institutions or for those seeking to update existing space.” —Online Searcher

“Whether you are remodeling an existing space or creating one anew, this well-written and detailed book is a tremendous resource of practical advice, filled with successful examples and grounded in the literature, that will ensure the success of your project.” —Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, Professor/Coordinator for Strategic Planning/Coordinator for Information Literacy Services and Instruction, University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

“Drawing on survey data, in-depth interviews, and their own experiences, Lampert and Meyers-Martin emphasize the importance of collaborative partnerships and strategy to create library learning spaces to meet the needs of students in each unique campus environment. The result is a concept of the learning commons that is vibrant and relevant!” —Jennifer Fabbi, Dean of the University Library, California State University, San Marcos

“This book offers practical guidance for starting resilient learning commons in contemporary academic libraries. Original survey results and interview findings support high impact vision setting and inclusive partner planning activities, with and for students. A post occupancy assessment tool ensures relevance for the full commons life cycle - from start to finish.” —Mary M. Somerville, University Librarian, University of the Pacific

“Creating a Learning Commons provides a comprehensive outline of the issues to take into consideration whether your library is renovating an existing space or embarking upon a new building project. The strength of the book lies in the variety of real-world examples and advice drawn from the authors’ own institutional experience, as well as surveys and interviews with experts such as project managers and architects.” —Cinthya Ippoliti, Director and University Librarian, Auraria Library, University of Colorado, Denver

From the Publisher

Drawing on survey data, in-depth interviews, and their own experiences, Lampert and Meyers-Martin emphasize the importance of collaborative partnerships and strategy to create library learning spaces to meet the needs of students in each unique campus environment. The result is a concept of the learning commons that is vibrant and relevant!

Jennifer Fabbi

In Creating a Learning Commons, the authors have skillfully distilled their own experience with developing a learning commons at California State University—Northridge into a well-researched and up-to-date guide to the growth and development of these innovative spaces.. .. With its mix of solid research, real-world examples, and practical ideas, Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians is an excellent contribution to the literature. It is a must-read for librarians and information professionals considering a new commons space for their institutions or for those seeking to update existing space.

Online Searcher

This book offers practical guidance for starting resilient learning commons in contemporary academic libraries. Original survey results and interview findings support high impact vision setting and inclusive partner planning activities, with and for students. A post occupancy assessment tool ensures relevance for the full commons life cycle - from start to finish.

Mary M. Somerville

Creating a Learning Commons provides a comprehensive outline of the issues to take into consideration whether your library is renovating an existing space or embarking upon a new building project. The strength of the book lies in the variety of real-world examples and advice drawn from the authors’ own institutional experience, as well as surveys and interviews with experts such as project managers and architects.

Cinthya Ippoliti

Whether you are remodeling an existing space or creating one anew, this well-written and detailed book is a tremendous resource of practical advice, filled with successful examples and grounded in the literature, that will ensure the success of your project.

Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe

Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librariansis an important resource for any library and campus that is considering creating a learning commons. The authors, Lynn D. Lampert and Coleen Meyers-Martin, have created a tool, as part of the Practical Guides for Librarians series that should be in every library’s professional reading collection. A well organized book.. .. Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librariansis an excellent resource and is highly recommended for every library planning a learning commons. This book would serve as an important reference tool in iSchool libraries.

Public Services Quarterly

This book offers practical guidance for starting resilient learning commons in contemporary academic libraries. Original survey results and interview findings support high impact vision setting and inclusive partner planning activities, with and for students. A post occupancy assessment tool ensures relevance for the full commons life cycle - from start to finish.

Mary M. Sommerville