The Learning Commons: Seven Simple Steps To Transform Your Library [Paperback]

This simple guide provides valuable insights for transforming an out-of-date public, school, or academic library into a thriving, user-centric learning commons.

The goal of the learning-commons strategy is to provide a centralized, go-to location for all users seeking help on the complex issues of teaching, researching, and being a global citizen in our changing world. A library organized around the learning-commons construct fosters collaborative work and social interaction between users during research and learning. This paradigm also encourages use of innovative technologies and information resources. Transforming a traditional library into a thriving learning commons does take some planning and effort, however.

Each of the seven chapters in this book explains a simple step that a librarian can take to improve their facility. Photographs and concrete examples of the suggested strategies are included; checklists at the end of each chapter serve as indicators for measuring progress. This text is useful for library administrators in school settings (both public and private, K-12) as well as academic, public, and special libraries.

Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Step One: User-Centered
2 Step Two: Flexible
3 Step Three: Repetitive Questions
4 Step Four: Join Resources
5 Step Five: Remove Barriers
6 Step Six: Trust Your Users
7 Step Seven: Publicize
Conclusion
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Index