The Learning Commons at Bayview University Library

1. The Learning Commons at Bayview University Library Problem Solving Team One (HE Qingfan, Kevin LEUNG, LUO Fengping, TANG Xiaoli, Y.C. WAN, WU Cheng-Juei & XIANG Yang) 21 April 2008

2. Bayview University Library (BUL) • A student population of approximately 14,000 plus a 3,000 strong faculty • Suffered total loss when it was hit by earthquake on April 1, 2008 • The library is under re-construction • The President of the University asked to create a Learning Commons (LC) that will take up one-fourth of the space of the new library

3. Our agenda is … to develop answers to the following LC-related issues in three days for John Johnson, the acting library director: • What should the LC be like physically and service wise? • What physical characteristics should it have?

4. What services will it provide? • What new services, if any, will be offered that were not offered before? • What other departments of the University should participate? • How can other departments of the University be encouraged to participate?

5. Will we need to charge for some services while others are free? • Should the learning commons-like replace the library?

6. What should the LC be like physically and service wise? • Seamless integration of technology into the provision of services • One-stop convenience • Accommodating needs of different user groups • 24x7 services • Innovative • Attentive to user needs

7. What physical characteristics should it have? • Inviting, attractive, comfortable and informal • Convenient • Flexibility in layout and services • Good connectivity, wired and wireless • Easy to self navigate • Environmental friendly

8. Architecturally, the LC should: • Located on G/F and 1/F • Also include space outdoor • Occupy two floors • Allow lot of sunshine to go into the building

9. What services will it provide? • Seats for single study • Space for group discussion and collaborative learning • Computer hardware/software for doing assignments • Workstations for searching library catalogue, accessing electronic resources, surfing the Web, sending emails, etc.

10. Reference and library help • DVD viewing • CD listening • Library skills and information literacy training • Scanning, photocopying and computer printing • Lockers • Public telephone

11. What new services, if any, will be offered that were not offered before? • Career and personal development counseling • Student advisory services • Language help • Café • Barber shop • Lockers for charging laptops • Notebook lending

12. IT help • Book shop • Book drop • Facilities for students with disabilities • Drinking fountain • Binding services • Shower room • Game room • Gym room

13. What other departments of the University should participate? • Computer/IT support • Language Center • Registry • Counseling Unit • Career Advisory Unit • Student bodies • Catering Unit

14. How can other departments of the University be encouraged to participate? • Explain to them that the LC will enable their units to be more visible • Fitting out their services counters/areas • Membership in the management committee • Help train their staff to work in the LC • Convince the University to allocate these units extra staffing

15. Will we need to charge for some services while others are free? • Food and drink sold at the Café as well as haircut at the barber shop should not be free. • Other services provided by the LC should be free to students and faculty of Bayview University • We should charge outsiders an annual fee for gaining access to the LC

16. Should the learning commons-like replace the library? • No, we don’t think so. • The LC should work hand-in-hand with the library, or no matter how it will be called in future, to meet the needs of students and faculty at Bayview University

17. But, can the LC be allocated more space? Thank you for your attention!