Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and transformation

Crit Stuart

TRLN 2005 Winter Conference

Learning from the Commons:Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

transformationtransformation

StimulusStimulus

►Reorganize and consolidate public Reorganize and consolidate public servicesservices

► Install an information / learning Install an information / learning commons in collaboration with OITcommons in collaboration with OIT

Learning from the commons: experiments in collaboration and transformation

Learning from the Commons:Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Staffing the CommonsStaffing the Commons

8 am8 am – midnight– midnight on floor of commonson floor of commons

►2 flavors of OIT student assistants 2 flavors of OIT student assistants

working 6000 hoursworking 6000 hours

►2 OIT staff hire, train, manage, teach & 2 OIT staff hire, train, manage, teach & trouble-shoottrouble-shoot

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the Commons:Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the Commons:Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Multimedia Multimedia isis the future the future

► 22 Mac G-5s . . . need to double 22 Mac G-5s . . . need to double ► lots of media editing toolslots of media editing tools► terabyte server for project storageterabyte server for project storage► home base for clubs and competitionhome base for clubs and competition► projection system; surrounded by artprojection system; surrounded by art

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

transformationtransformation

Multimedia Multimedia isis the future the future

► immense demand for skills assistanceimmense demand for skills assistance► students seeking “the edge”students seeking “the edge”► staff intervention customized to needstaff intervention customized to need► increasing demand for short classes increasing demand for short classes ► faculty “abandon” entire classes to usfaculty “abandon” entire classes to us

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Staffing the CommonsStaffing the Commons

Consolidated information services deskConsolidated information services desk

► library professionals 8:00 a. – 9:00 p.library professionals 8:00 a. – 9:00 p.► paraprofessionals (1paraprofessionals (1stst shift & weekends) shift & weekends) ► hybrid staff (2hybrid staff (2ndnd & 3 & 3rdrd shifts & weekends) shifts & weekends)

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Hybrid Library staffHybrid Library staff(Information Associates)(Information Associates)

► 3 grade levels 3 grade levels

► Provide reference and technology supportProvide reference and technology support

► Pay $5000 & higher than Pay $5000 & higher than paraprofessionalsparaprofessionals

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Use of facilityUse of facility

► 104 sx280 PCs & 22 Mac G-5s104 sx280 PCs & 22 Mac G-5s► 160 applications on image160 applications on image► 10 scanning stations 10 scanning stations ► 800,000 print jobs per year (all free)800,000 print jobs per year (all free)► 3,200 hours per machine3,200 hours per machine► ~ 3,000,000 logins per year~ 3,000,000 logins per year

Learning from the Commons:Learning from the Commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Consultation cubiclesConsultation cubicles

► reserved by teaching assistantsreserved by teaching assistants► impromptu use by reference staffimpromptu use by reference staff

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Presentation rehearsal studioPresentation rehearsal studio

► reserved via student portalreserved via student portal► 800 reservations in 7 months800 reservations in 7 months► replicates best technology in replicates best technology in

classroomsclassrooms► records sessions to streaming serverrecords sessions to streaming server► capacity: 13capacity: 13

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Alternative uses of facilityAlternative uses of facility

► gaming nightsgaming nights► movies (student made and movies (student made and

commercial)commercial)► improv theaterimprov theater► a capella groupsa capella groups

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Commons Advisory board Commons Advisory board ► 2 Library & 3 OIT reps2 Library & 3 OIT reps

► policy, staffing, funding & refreshment of policy, staffing, funding & refreshment of equipment & software, customer equipment & software, customer

complaintscomplaints

► changes “vetted” with staffchanges “vetted” with staff

► memo of understandingmemo of understanding

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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AssessmentAssessment

► <Feedback button> <Feedback button> ► focus groupsfocus groups► detailed pop-up surveys (annual)detailed pop-up surveys (annual)► reaction / feedback from visitorsreaction / feedback from visitors► Steelcase study of campus watering Steelcase study of campus watering

holesholes► annual report card by Library / OITannual report card by Library / OIT

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Student reactionsStudent reactions

► just-in-time assistance with complex just-in-time assistance with complex softwaresoftware

► superb multimedia; exhaustive superb multimedia; exhaustive softwaresoftware

► cool aesthetics; “see and be seen”; cool aesthetics; “see and be seen”; great great hours; comforthours; comfort

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Faculty reactionsFaculty reactions

► expect us to teach technology skillsexpect us to teach technology skills

► expect to hold classes in commons expect to hold classes in commons

► endorse TA’s embedded in “common endorse TA’s embedded in “common ground” ground”

of Library of Library

► growing appreciation for multimedia projectsgrowing appreciation for multimedia projects

Learning from the commons:Learning from the commons:Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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RecognitionRecognition► best improvement at GT (2003)best improvement at GT (2003)

► best computer lab at GT (2004)best computer lab at GT (2004)

► best place to study on campus (2004)best place to study on campus (2004)

► increased Library attendance 90% in 24 increased Library attendance 90% in 24 monthsmonths

► $275K refreshment of all technology (2005)$275K refreshment of all technology (2005)

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Reinventing the academic Reinventing the academic librarylibrary

► 11stst phase in “library for learning” phase in “library for learning”

► redefine staff roles and skill setsredefine staff roles and skill sets

► consolidate service pointsconsolidate service points

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Reinventing the academic libraryReinventing the academic library

► one-stop shopping for students – provides one-stop shopping for students – provides core core services essential to survivalservices essential to survival

► accommodates individual and group workaccommodates individual and group work

► big opportunities to collaborate with logical big opportunities to collaborate with logical partnerspartners

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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A “community center for learning”A “community center for learning”

► provide space for tutoring and mentoring provide space for tutoring and mentoring activities (intentional and “gypsy”)activities (intentional and “gypsy”)

► support student and faculty support student and faculty experimentation on new kinds of projectsexperimentation on new kinds of projects

► relieve faculty & TAs from training, and relieve faculty & TAs from training, and raise bar on student outputsraise bar on student outputs

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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A “community center for learning”A “community center for learning”

► give enterprising students “the edge”give enterprising students “the edge”► enhance information competency – enhance information competency –

“subversively”“subversively”► provide informed technical assistance at provide informed technical assistance at

point-of-needpoint-of-need► accelerate creation of tutorials & learning accelerate creation of tutorials & learning

objects objects

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Leveraging technologyLeveraging technology► just-in-time updates (better response just-in-time updates (better response

to students’ needs)to students’ needs)► remodel IT support elsewhere on campusremodel IT support elsewhere on campus► today’s multimedia is tomorrow’s today’s multimedia is tomorrow’s

standard tool setstandard tool set► experimenting with new applications (3-D)experimenting with new applications (3-D)► collaborate with departments for new collaborate with departments for new

softwaresoftware

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Leveraging technologyLeveraging technology

► individual massive file space individual massive file space ► provide tablet computers, laptops, provide tablet computers, laptops,

digital digital camerascameras► showcasing new technology for showcasing new technology for

student student purchase (coming)purchase (coming)

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Innovative uses Innovative uses ► base for student- and faculty-sponsored eventsbase for student- and faculty-sponsored events► student and faculty showcase for best student and faculty showcase for best

achievements (coming)achievements (coming)► presentation rehearsal spacepresentation rehearsal space► vendor sponsored demos and trainingvendor sponsored demos and training► freshman registration (PR) freshman registration (PR) ► fun & unexpected events: games, movies, fun & unexpected events: games, movies,

wacky wacky decorations and “after hour” decorations and “after hour” functionsfunctions

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Issues in collaborationIssues in collaboration► it’s an it’s an experiment !experiment !► vision / mission / goals vision / mission / goals ► establishing a logical mix of collaboratorsestablishing a logical mix of collaborators► trust, communication, melding customer trust, communication, melding customer

service service philosophies and culturesphilosophies and cultures► skill sets and performance expectations of skill sets and performance expectations of

staffstaff► job classification, pay scale, hiringjob classification, pay scale, hiring

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

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Issues in collaborationIssues in collaboration

► attracting new partners into the attracting new partners into the commonscommons

► management / oversightmanagement / oversight► informed, passionate leadershipinformed, passionate leadership► expert observation and commentaryexpert observation and commentary► measurement / assessmentmeasurement / assessment► repercussions on all library programmingrepercussions on all library programming

Learning from the commons: Learning from the commons: Experiments in collaboration and Experiments in collaboration and

transformationtransformation