LibraryLinks Spring 2005
Information Commons Prototype Comes to Bartle
By John M. Meador Jr.
Binghamton
University is preparing to join a national movement to create collaborative
learning facilities (see http://www.dartmouth.edu/~collab/).
Planning is underway to relocate the South POD from the Engineering Building
and merge it with Bartle Library Reference Services to create an Information
Commons. This collaborative endeavor between Library and Computing Services
staff will provide students a holistic computing experience with appropriate
assistance identifying, locating, retrieving and manipulating information
resources. It is anticipated that resources will be in place to support student
activities ranging from simple e-mail to the preparation of digital dissertations.
One aspect of the Information Commons will be an inviting and ergonomic working environment. Furniture from Herman Miller is currently being tested in the Bartle Library Reference Area.