The Library as a Learning Commons (2011 Strategic Plan)

Revitalization of the library would strengthen the academic program across the College. We require a state-of-the-art library with current technology and a full complement of support staff. The library plays a key role in fostering individual and collaborative projects, equivalent to the sciences’ lab spaces and art studios as incubators of new knowledge and experimentation. The library needs to be transformed into a 21st century learning commons, an environment with multi-use spaces that enhance social interaction and cross-disciplinary learning and teaching outside the classroom. The library is in need of renovated physical space and new technology. Proposals for improvements from the ReHamping student group should be implemented where possible. The Humanities faculty has not had a gathering place of their own in the past and this should be part of the new Learning Commons. A renovated and enhanced gallery space would celebrate the importance of this hub for the creation of culture and community. A café would contribute to social interaction and collaborative learning activities. Improving library accessibility would be an integral component of a library capital project. Finally, a renovated library complex could serve as an ideal starting point for admissions tours. The library will be physically linked with a new community Center creating one unified structure for community living and learning. (See Community Center initiative below)

Full-time, Permanent Library Director. An essential part of the learning commons initiative would be the hiring of a full-time library director to offer leadership and expertise in print, visual, and digital media, as well as in rapidly expanding information technologies and information literacy programs. The new director would advocate for increased acquisitions and maintenance budgets, implement an information literacy program, and conduct a review of staff responsibilities.

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * I really don't understand why the college spent money revamping the furniture and spaces of the library the spring before last (2010) if it was going to be incomplete. That seems like a huge waste of money to me, disappointing. I think Rehamping had some amazing ideas for minor ways of restructuring the library, particularly the area between the current school store and duplications (opening that up, etc). I'm unclear as to whether this proposal considers just the library part of the library/rcc complex or the whole complex? Does the complex need an additional cafe or Rao's instead of sodexo? I agree with comments below-- I think focusing on adding new technology that would be highly expensive and which few students will be able to use regularly obscures the real problems of the library- space and resources. I think putting funds behind having more regular resource librarians is crucial. Other such things, such as more books (and making space for more books, if possible), is most important at this point. - Ilana Rossoff F08
 * If you are going to be remodeling the bridge, you should put more tables in there and more outlets. That space is severely limited as a hangout and study area by its lack of outlets and places to sit. Also, I second the Rao's suggestion. - Mary Hannah Duhon F07


 * I like this initiative, particularly the creation of multi-use spaces, improved accessibility, and the idea of starting admissions tours at the library. I also think that incorporating the ReHamping plan is a great idea. Question: What is meant by "a cafe" - is this different from the Bridge Cafe? Is this new cafe supposed to be somehow different or better? Where would it go? - Alynda Wood, Student
 * I completely support this initiative, and feel it is way past time that we addressed MULTIPLE aspects of the proposal above--I whole heartedly endorse the NEED FOR A FULL TIME PERMANENT LIBRARY DIRECTOR with contemporary expertise (and I would argue for a candidate who is part of contemporary debates on a national level, as well as someone who can link the library to the Center for the Book, Carle Museum, and Yiddish Book Center). I aslo appreciate the way in which the library as a "gathering place" for the humanities is referenced. But what is curiously missing in all of these discussions of space is the need for a space for the Humanities. See my comments under other sections. ~Karen Koehler (MLS and PhD--former original cataloguer for the University of Illinois Library, now Professor of Architectural and Art History)


 * A new cafe is crucial, as superficial as that may sound. I come from Las Vegas where there is a cafe open 24/7. That cafe was one of the most interesting spaces. It drew both students studying, as well people who went to enjoy themselves leisurely. So, to create an interesting cafe at Hampshire the bridge must renovated. The floor has to either be replaced with stone/ hardwood, or rugs/carpet, which would be more affordable. Some glass wall or other barrier must be built to allow the cafe to be quiet while people are in the gym. I think we should follow Mount Holyoke’s example and have Rao’s handle the cafe (as it brews wonderful coffee), and NOT Sodexo. Lastly, it should be open late. I would recommend until 3 or 4 in the morning. The barista may be able to replace the job of the airport lounge monitor. - Asher Dvir-Djerassi, ald10@hampshire.edu
 * I agree with all of the above. However, if there is an initiative to create a "Learning Commons", I do NOT think any school should get a place of their own in it: we need a space that is speciically meant to foster interdisciplinary dialogue. Also: we need to move away from depending on the resources of the libraries at the other colleges. In regards to accessibility, I can say that spending a month with an injured knee really made me appreciate how inaccessible our spaces are. Devin Morse
 * While I am supportive of the idea of improving study space in the library, I'm uncertain of the meaning of creating a "state-of-the-art library with updated technology". I don't really understand what that means- more computer labs, printers or scanners?  I really think what our library is missing is resources, more books.  I'm unsure that updating the libraries technological resources would make the library a more constructive study space, outside of prehaps expanding photo and video editing software.  Theoretically, a cafe- learning commons space is a good idea but in practicality I'm not sure that it would be a productive space. I think that an additional cafe could be beneficial to the Hampshire community but I'm not sure that it should be created in the library.  I'm skeptical that that would improve study space, as I found studying in the airport lounge problematic due to the excess noise from the Bridge Cafe.    I'm also wondering if this plan would involve expanding the library or simply remodeling the existing space.  If there is to be a new cafe, I'm in agreement that Sodexo should not run the cafe. - Judith Hannah Philips
 * I agree with the above comment that the library really needs more books, journals and database access, not fancy technology like smart boards or whatever people think is a good idea now. It's basically a joke amongst my friends that google books is more helpful for research than the hampshire library. Perhaps ask professors what they think is missing from the library in terms of books and journals? I agree that Sodexo should not run the cafe, and that Rao's does a good job at Mt. Holyoke if someone other than the student run cafe initiative must do it. Gaines Blasdel F10
 * Student and faculty suggestions would be invaluable to the types of books and media they need to suit specific needs. Hampshire is a diverse campus and so I imagine stocking a library for that is an interesting challenge. Where I have no complaints in our book selection because of the ease of access to the other college libraries there are a few things that would make using the facilities easier. The copying and printing card machines. I suggest integrating that system with student's academic accounts to make things easier. I can not tell you how many times people have struggled with forgetting money, or not having physical cash to operate the card machine. It makes more sense to be able to use funds from your student account to use the copiers. Vincenzo Alexander S11
 * I like the ideas of asking for faculty and student suggestions about books and media, working with ReHamping (and otherwise soliciting student/staff/faculty input), and having a non-Sodexo cafe (although I don't think we need two cafes in the same building). Accessibility should definitely be a priority.  I'm not sure about starting admissions tours at the library; I guess I would need more information about this.  Would this mean having a space in the library dedicated to admissions info sessions (and not current student use), or would the tours start in a different location from the info sessions...?  Input from the admissions staff should definitely be taken into account on this, and ideally also input from current students (all of whom are former prospective students), other staff, etc.  Rebecca Thomas, F'07
 * This entire document often contains buzz-words that we use to convey “hot topic” thinking to each other, but relying on shrink-wrapped labels can short change us from finding what we want, not what’s hot. Usually “state of the art” is a shared concept in our mind that’s actually already out of date. It ends up being a tread mill of constant disappointments and dollars spent unwisely. I would urge us to drop the jargon “digital”, “collaborative”, “learning commons”, etc. and instead actually say what we mean in our own words. There is a new Re-Hamping plan to expand their already wonderful Div III corner to encompass all of the corners on the library first floor with their design style and functionality. They have done an excellent job and we should continue with their help. In a somewhat distant previous design analysis of the library the concept of “social space” was the main discovered point. That idea should continue and help us build opportunities for students to both interact together (what is currently called collaboration) and to study singularly. Make the first floor more open (remove all stacks) and offer public gathering overseen by library mentors, while the second and third floors would be a mix of quiet social and private spaces with many more enclosed areas for small groups to meet in and for the librarians to tutor students in research methods. All groups on campus want clubhouses to foster solidarity and impart legitimacy. The problem is that most of us are members of several of those groups, not just one. Building a clubhouse for all of the groups is wasteful and self defeating. We need to honor the desire for small group cohesion while more wisely designing ways to time-share group meeting spaces. Very few spaces are busy all day long and the day runs in cycles of use. The same holds true for the cafe concept. Almost every academic building on campus would love to have a cafe to draw students and make it a hub of activity, but you end up watering down other similar experiences and then they all lose. We need to pick just a few locations and then discover ways to make them work that benefits everyone. We also have to stop thinking of the day as classroom hours and realize that the day runs very long for a college student and classroom hours are actually the short part of the day. All of this is less about building or buying stuff and more about developing interesting experiences and opportunities for students. John Gunther
 * A library director would be absolutely essential. As to technology - I think it would depend on what is specifically meant.  More books are essential.  However do we want copies that are in the other libraries?  Is that wasteful when students already have access to the book or do we want a library that is more of a one stop research resource?  Daniel_Homer