Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Creating a Learning Commons: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides experienced and detailed research-based guidance for academic librarians and other professionals charged with creating a learning commons. Readers can follow the entire process of developing a library learning commons design and implementation plan from inception to post-occupancy planning and assessment. This practical guide is designed to help librarians develop sound strategies for navigating the challenging issues that often emerge in launching a dynamic and collaborative new library learning commons space within a university or college setting. Special features include: -Eleven chapters filled with practical and research based information on best practices for planning, marketing, assessing and implementing a learning commons space and its associated programming within an academic library. -Feedback from the book's survey that resulted in eighty respondents sharing their institutional experiences and processes and recommendations pertaining to learning commons planning. -In-depth interviews with essential professionals (including an architect, designer and technologist) that should ideally be consulted before finalizing any learning commons implementation plan. -Photos from award-winning library learning commons spaces. Lampert and Meyers-Martin provide a practical guide, complete with examples and photos of award-winning learning commons designs. This book will help dedicated professionals identify best practices within today's existing learning commons settings and get up to speed on how to best approach developing their own library's new and innovative learning spaces.