Information Commons: What’s the Ideal?Pamela H. Jureller and Inga H. Barnello

Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY

Information Feud!

DEMOGRAPHICSWhere do you work on campus?

Lib

rary

IT/C

ompu

ter C

ente

r

Med

ia S

ervi

ces

Oth

er

11%5%

68%

16%

1. Library

2. IT/Computer Center

3. Media Services

4. Other

DEMOGRAPHICSWhat is the size of your institution?

Sm

all-m

ediu

m c

olleg.

..

Lar

ge co

llege

(enro

ll ...

Univ

ersi

ty (e

nroll

>10...

29%

62%

10%

1. Small-medium college (enroll <7,500 FTE)

2. Large college (enroll 7,501-10,000 FTE)

3. University (enroll >10,001 FTE)

DEMOGRAPHICSType funding institution?

Priv

ate

Public

57%

43%1. Private

2. Public

DEMOGRAPHICSType of institution?

2-y

ear

4-y

ear

81%

19%

1. 2-year

2. 4-year

62%

5%

14%

10%

0%

10%

0%0%0%

1. Welcoming, informal atmosphere2. Natural lighting 3. Café 4. Web links and virtual displays to

connect in-person events 5. Lively colors 6. Interesting patterns and textures

7. Art displays 8. Spaces for films9. Other

Feng shui, anyone?What aesthetic aspects make the

information commons space welcoming?

Information Feud!

Feng shui, anyone?What aesthetic aspects make the

information commons space welcoming?

1. Welcoming, informal atmosphere 97.0%

2. Natural lighting 92.9%

3. Café 91.9%

4. Web links and virtual displays to connect in-person events 87.9%

5. Lively colors 84.9%

6. Interesting patterns and textures 83.8%

6. Art displays 83.8%

7. Spaces for films 79.8%

8. Other 16.2%

Def

ine

serv

ices

to o

ffer

Det

erm

ine

staff

needs

Def

ine

and g

ain fi

nanci

al r.

..

Dev

elop fl

oor pla

n

Conduct

a n

eeds

asse

ssm

ent

Dev

elop s

trate

gic g

oals

Det

erm

ine

appro

priate

par

t...

Det

erm

ine

locat

ion

Dev

elop a

vis

ion s

tate

men

t ...

Des

ign a

n ass

essm

ent p

lan

27%

0%

5% 5%

0%

14%

18%

5%5%

23%

1. Define services to offer2. Determine staff needs3. Define and gain financial

resources4. Develop floor plan5. Conduct a needs assessment6. Develop strategic goals7. Determine appropriate

partners8. Determine location9. Develop a vision statement

related to learning10. Design an assessment plan

“To be, or not to be.”What are the key elements in planning an

information commons?

“To be, or not to be.”What are the key elements

in planning an information commons?

Information Feud!

1. Define services to offer 95.7%

1. Determine staff needs 95.7%

2. Define and gain financial resources 94.2%

3. Develop floor plan 92.8%

3. Conduct a needs assessment 92.8%

4. Develop strategic goals 91.3%

4. Determine appropriate partners 91.3%

4. Determine location 91.3%

5. Develop a vision statement related to learning 88.4%

6. Design an assessment plan 85.5%

7. Other 5.8%

W

ork c

ollabora

tivel

y on

cla.

.

Writ

e cl

ass

paper

s

Firs

t sto

p for r

esea

rch n

eeds

Dev

elop p

rese

ntatio

ns

Hold

impro

mptu

mee

ting

E-m

ail f

riends

, pro

fesso

rs, .

..

Manip

ulate

dat

a

Multi

task

ing

Oth

er

35%

0%

13%

4% 4%

13%

4%

13%13%

1. Work collaboratively on class project (on site or virtually

2. Write class papers3. First stop for research

needs4. Develop presentations5. Hold impromptu meeting6. E-mail friends, professors,

others7. Manipulate data8. Multitasking9. Other

“Whatcha doin’?”What is the most common activity in the

information commons?

“Whatcha doin’?”What is the most common activity

in the information commons?

Information Feud!

1. Work collaboratively on class project (on site or virtually) 95.5%

2. Write class papers 92.4%

2. First stop for research needs 92.4%

3. Develop presentations 89.4%

4. Hold impromptu meeting 87.9%

5. E-mail friends, professors, others 86.4%

6. Manipulate data 84.9%

6. Multitasking 84.9%

7. Other 7.6%

29%

21%

4%

0%

13%13%13%

8%

1. Information commons web page

2. Staff collaboration with student focus groups

3. Computer default screens4. Colorful banners5. Exhibit student products

developed as a result of the work in the info commons

6. Display digital resources on large screens

7. Mouse pads8. Other

“Attention Kmart Shoppers!”What is the best way to promote the information

commons?

“Attention Kmart Shoppers!”What is the best way to promote

the information commons?

Information Feud!

1. Information commons web page 88.1%

2. Staff collaboration with student focus groups 84. 8%

3. Computer default screens 81.4%

4. Colorful banners 78.0%

4. Exhibit student products developed as a result of the work in the info commons 78.0%

5. Display digital resources on large screens 72.9%

6. Mouse pads 71.2%

7. Other 32.2%

17%

0%

26%26%

13%

17%

1. Text messaging2. Chat via Meebo or other

application3. E-mail4. VOIP (voice over internet

protocol)5. MMOG/virtual worlds e.g.

Second Life6. Other

“Comin’ down the pike”What will be the most used software application in

3 years for information services and learning?

“Comin’ down the pike”What will be the most used software application in

3 years for information services and learning?

Information Feud!

1. Text messaging 87.7%

1. Chat via Meebo or other application 87.7%

2. E-mail 82.5%

3. VOIP (voice over internet protocol) 79.0%

3. MMOG/virtual worlds e.g. Second Life 79.0%

4. Other 19.3%

50%

13%

4%

25%

8%

1. Library2. Student center3. Classroom/Academic

building4. No matter where, they will

come5. Other

“If you build it, they will come.”Where should an information commons be located?

“If you build it, they will come.”Where should an

information commons be located?

Information Feud!

1. Library 98.4%

2. Student center 85.5%

3. Classroom/Academic building 79.4%

4. No matter where, they will come – please explain why 31.8%

5. Other 3.2%

43%

17%

13%

0%

9%

0%

4%

13%

1. Individuals or departments are territorial of their particular area, service, or level of service

2. Failure to make effective referrals3. Inadequate knowledge of new technology4. Specialization of staff in particular skills or

subject5. Librarians answering technical questions 6. Technical staff answering reference

questions7. No one can possibly know everything8. Other

“There’s no “I” in T-E-A-M.”Staffing challenges: What is the most challenging aspect of

staffing an information or learning commons?

“There’s no “I” in T-E-A-M.”Staffing challenges:

What is the most challenging aspect of staffingan information or learning commons?

Information Feud!

1. Individuals or departments are territorial of their particular area, service, or level of service 88.7%

2. Failure to make effective referrals 82.3%

2. Inadequate knowledge of new technology 82.3%

2. Specialization of staff in particular skills or subject 82.3%

3. Librarians answering technical questions 80.7%

3. Technical staff answering reference questions 80.7%

46%

25%

4% 4%

13%

0%

4%4%

1. Finances/funding2. Lack of collaboration among

campus units3. Lack of teamwork among staff4. Finding a location for the

commons5. Hours of operation6. IT staff 7. Librarians8. Other

“What seems to be the problem?”What is the biggest obstacle to starting up an

information commons?

“What seems to be the problem?”What is the biggest obstacle to

starting up an information commons?

Information Feud!

1. Finances/funding 95.2%

2. Lack of collaboration among campus units 82.3%

3. Lack of teamwork among staff 77.4%

3. Finding a location for the commons 77.4%

4. Hours of operation 75.8%

5. IT staff 72.6%

6. Librarians 67.7%

7. Other 6.5

39%

35%

13%

9%

0%0%

4%

1. Soft, comfortable seating2. Furniture with wheels for

easy mobility3. Modular furniture4. Fixed individual

workstations5. Portable whiteboards6. Bean bag chairs for

informal setting7. Other

“Take a load off.”Which furniture works best (or should be included)?

“Take a load off.”Which furniture works best

(or should be included)?

Information Feud!

1. Soft, comfortable seating 87.1%

2. Furniture with wheels for easy mobility 85.5%

3. Modular furniture 82.3%

4. Fixed individual workstations 74.2%

4. Portable whiteboards 74.2%

5. Bean bag chairs for informal setting 62.9%

6. Other 12.9

Consi

sten

t tra

inin

g a..

Cro

ss-tr

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taff

Use

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rs a

s st

aff t

o...

Offe

r ser

vice

more

h...

Use

stu

dent w

orke

rs...

Oth

er

55%

27%

9%

0%

9%

0%

1. Consistent training and education of staff and patrons

2. Cross-training of staff3. Use peers as staff to which

students are more likely4. Offer service more hours than

previously offered by using students

5. Use student workers from all participating campus units

6. Other

“Look, Ma, no hands!”What are the means to successful service?

“Look, Ma, no hands!”What are the means to successful service?

Information Feud!

1. Consistent training and education of staff and patrons 95.1%

2. Cross-training of staff 91.8%

3. Use peers as staff to which students are more likely 82.0%

4. Offer service more hours than previously offered by using students 80.3%

5. Use student workers from all participating campus units 73.8%

6. Other 8.2%

The “ideal,” top responses are …. !

The Ideal Info Commons: Top Online Survey Responses

1 Aesthetics Welcoming, informal atmosphere

2 Key elements in planning Define services to offer/Determine staff needs

3 Most common activity Work collaboratively on class project

4 Promote by Information commons web page

5 Most used in 3 yrs Text messaging/Chat via Meebo or other application (Tie)

6 Location Library

7 Staffing challenges Individuals or departments are territorial

8 Biggest obstacle Finances/funding

9 Furniture Soft, comfortable seating

10 Key to successful service Consistent training and education of staff and patrons

The Ideals : Compared

Conference Top Response

Survey Top Response

1 Aesthetics Welcoming, informal atmosphere2 Key

elements in planning

Define services to offer/Determine staff needs

3 Most common activity

Work collaboratively on class project

4 Promote by

Information commons web page

5 Most used 3 yrs from now

Text messaging/Chat via Meebo or other application (Tie)

6 Location Library7 Staffing

challengesIndividuals or departments are territorial

8 Biggest obstacle

Finances/funding

9 Furniture Soft, comfortable seating10 Key to

successConsistent training and education of staff and patrons

http://web.lemoyne.edu/~barnello/CCUMC.htm