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The paper seeks to describe the establishment and progress of an online initiative: RIC – Researching the Information Commons.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to describe the establishment and progress of an online initiative: RIC – Researching the Information Commons.
Design/methodology/approach
Who has really challenged and thought through in a research sense about the issues that surround the commons provision of information; a concept dear to the hearts of many of the world's librarians? This question leads to the development of a researcher networking initiative, represented on the web as RIC (http://infocommons.curtin.edu.au).
Findings
The web site has a growing number of participants, not all working together, but who are interested in information commons matters from a research point of view.
Research limitations/implications
RIC is a federated network of colleagues researching in this many faceted arena and it is slowly gathering momentum. Expressions of interest to join have been sought, and a web site has been developed.
Practical implications
RIC will operate through: openness and feedback; shared decision making; diversity within the commons; honouring social and legal equity amongst its members; and fostering sociability within the commons.
Social implications
The vision for the RIC Group is to nurture and mentor a community of researchers interested in matters relating to the information commons, by being in itself an information commons.
Originality/value
The topic of information commons has considerable use and currency but there appears to be only one RIC.
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Libraries are exploring the meaning of the “information commons” and have responded to the technological needs of the diversity of digital access trends. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Libraries are exploring the meaning of the “information commons” and have responded to the technological needs of the diversity of digital access trends. The purpose of this conceptual article is to explore the possibilities of the next step of developing dynamic “learning commons” using examples of projects and ideas presented by librarians in the field.
Design/methodology/approach
The “learning commons” model has the potential to be a laboratory for students, librarians and faculty. It is a collaboration space and requires partnerships and cooperation across disciplines. Ideas about user behavior and types of projects to be explored are included.
Findings
Funding for learning commons is linked to measured outcomes. The role of the librarian changes to include advocacy and project planning.
Practical implications
This paper demonstrates that the change in library service via the learning commons concept requires planning, interdisciplinary collaboration and a certain amount of risk taking.
Originality/value
This paper is useful for librarians who are designing and/or implementing “learning commons” spaces and concepts into their libraries and library services.
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The purpose of this research is to apply principles from the field of industrial and organizational psychology on organizational analysis and job analysis to better identify…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to apply principles from the field of industrial and organizational psychology on organizational analysis and job analysis to better identify successful candidates for employment in an Information Commons.
Design/methodology/approach
Review of professional research, research from both library literature and industrial and organizational psychology, review of professional association surveys.
Findings
Library administration must invest time to articulate mission, value, and goals for the Information Commons before undertaking the organizational analysis. From the organizational analysis will flow the job analysis, job descriptions and hiring protocols.
Original/value
Core concepts of organizational analysis and job analysis from the field of industrial and organizational psychology are pertinent and useful to library leaders in planning, implementing and staffing new service models, such as Information Commons.
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The purpose of this paper is to consider arguments both for and against intellectual property (IP) rights that are premised on each of two conceptions of the information commons…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider arguments both for and against intellectual property (IP) rights that are premised on each of two conceptions of the information commons that attributes either moral value or disvalue to its preservation.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is the philosophically standard one of reflective equilibrium. The author considers the argument for a morally protected information commons that is grounded in Locke's famous proviso limiting original acquisition of material property to situations that leave enough of the resource to others and Hardin's famous argument that holding material property in common leads to overuse and depletion – a Tragedy of the commons. In particular, the arguments are evaluated according to whether they cohere with ordinary foundational commitments.
Findings
The author argues that neither conception of the commons is directly applicable to information objects and hence is relevant with respect to the issue of whether legal protection of IP rights is morally justified.
Originality/value
The identification of key differences between material objects and information objects that shows the irrelevance of these two leading conceptions in resolving the general issue of whether legal protection of IP rights is justified.
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The professional discourse on academic library planning and design is examined. A critical realist philosophical stance and a constructionist perspective constitute the…
Abstract
The professional discourse on academic library planning and design is examined. A critical realist philosophical stance and a constructionist perspective constitute the theoretical framework that, paired with Fairclough's methodology for critical discourse analysis, is used to examine the constitution of interpretative repertoires and of a discourse constructing the academic library as a learning place. The information commons, learning commons, and library designed for learning repertoires are described and the effects of discursive activity are analyzed. Three types of effects are presented: (1) the production by the LIS community of discourse on academic libraries of a sizable body of literature on the information commons and on the learning commons, (2) the construction of new types of libraries on the commons model proposed by Beagle, and (3) the metaphorization of the library as business. The study concludes that the existing discourse takes a facilities management perspective dominated by concerns with technology, equipment, and space requirements that does not address the physical, psychological, and environmental qualities of library space design. Consequently, it is suggested that architectural programming techniques should be used in library planning and design that consider the architectural features and environmental design factors contributing to the making of a place where learning is facilitated.
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Keywords
This bibliography aims to give citations and annotations for a core selection of sources on the information and learning commons trend in academic libraries.
Abstract
Purpose
This bibliography aims to give citations and annotations for a core selection of sources on the information and learning commons trend in academic libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
Articles, books, and web sites relevant to this topic were found in the Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts database; Library Literature Index; WorldCat; and on the internet. Sources were chosen that contribute to an overview of the concepts or cover practical considerations in implementation.
Findings
Libraries are developing best practices as they experiment with learner‐centered service models, but they apply these best practices differently according to their unique needs. Early implementations focus on technology and access, while later implementations focus on more collaborations surrounding learner‐centered pedagogies.
Research limitations/implications
This bibliography selects from English language books, web sites, and peer reviewed journals about US, British, Canadian, and Oceania academic libraries, large and small.
Originality/value
This survey of the literature will help librarians and administrators understand the theoretical trends and collaboration that influence how libraries can change service, space, and technology to meet emerging needs.
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Keywords
Libraries and library professionals face multiple challenges in meeting user needs in the second decade of the new millennium. This is particularly true in academic libraries…
Abstract
Purpose
Libraries and library professionals face multiple challenges in meeting user needs in the second decade of the new millennium. This is particularly true in academic libraries where students and faculty demand and expect fast, easy, and seamless access to information as well as flexible, comfortable places to work alone as well as collaboratively with colleagues, friends, classmates, and instructors. These same patrons often require the assistance of information specialists to navigate a library’s increasingly large array of online resources. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper provides historical context and reviews recent trends in the area in the area of learning and study spaces in academic libraries. It also cites the successful information commons at the author’s home institution, Loyola University Chicago, examining its first six years of operation and projecting changes in its next half decade.
Findings
The past 15 plus years have seen a major shift in philosophy in the USA and in other parts of the globe in terms of the importance of “library as space” in enhancing the role of the college and university library. As a result, academic institutions, at the urging of librarians, have created spaces known as information commons, learning commons, research commons, etc. in response to user needs for access to technology, group work, social interaction, and knowledge creation.
Originality/value
The information commons in all its forms has not been static, indeed it has matured, adapting over time to changing technologies, patron needs, and pedagogies.
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Michael J. Whitchurch, C. Jeffrey Belliston and William Baer
The purpose of this paper is to show that the idea and implementation of information commons' is becoming more prevalent in the academic library community. Many of these have been…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show that the idea and implementation of information commons' is becoming more prevalent in the academic library community. Many of these have been implemented in what were once General Reference areas of libraries. This paper discusses the process and experience of the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University, including concept development, acceptance and implementation. In addition, the first 18 months of operation and our visions for the future of our implementation are contained herein. One of the major themes of the paper is that change in an information commons is inevitable.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a case study of the information commons implementation done at Brigham Young University.
Findings
The paper shows the implementation of the information commons at Brigham Young University has been very successful and it will continue to adapt as higher education practice at the University continues to change.
Practical implications
This paper shows that the jury is still out as concerns “best practices” in information commons' design, Brigham Young University's experience constitutes a case study, which may very well emerge as an example of “best practice.”
Originality/value
Shows that the experience at Brigham Young University will help other academic institutions as they contemplate implementing an information commons or changing a current implementation.
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Williams Ezinwa Nwagwu and Margaret Molaodi Matobako
This study was aimed to examine emerging knowledge commons in the public libraries in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District in Free State, South Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
This study was aimed to examine emerging knowledge commons in the public libraries in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District in Free State, South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
A triangulated sample survey was adopted to collect data from the users of the commons using a questionnaire, and data of community member and the library officers were collected using an interview schedule. The study was guided by Hess and Ostrom's Institutional Analysis and Development framework.
Findings
The librarians and the commons users recognise the changing nature, roles and services of the libraries without necessarily attributing the changes to the emergence of knowledge commons. Users viewed the commons by the learning opportunities offered by information and communication technologies. They were, however, willing to contribute their resources to boost and enrich the commons; their contributions presently take the forms of volunteering of their knowledge and skill through offering of training sessions to users of the commons. A critical aspect of the commons, namely, participation in the governance and management of the commons resources appears not to be occurring.
Practical implications
To adequately build knowledge commons in the libraries will require formally introducing knowledge commons in the libraries, doing a systems analysis, deciding on the content and their sources, drawing up a programme for nurturing the system including training of relevant staff and then providing basic infrastructures.
Originality/value
This study used quantitative approach to deploy the institutional analysis development Institutional Analysis and Development framework in the study of public library institution. Studies on knowledge commons in public libraries have not been found.
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Keywords
Jennifer Church, Jason Vaughan, Wendy Starkweather and Katherine Rankin
Presents the development of the Information Commons in the new Lied Library at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from conceptualization to realization. Discusses the goals of…
Abstract
Presents the development of the Information Commons in the new Lied Library at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from conceptualization to realization. Discusses the goals of the facility, including the need to create a space that simultaneously supports access, collaboration, and production in scholarly endeavors. Also addresses the impact of the Information Commons concept on patterns of service, and illustrates the challenges in designing Information Commons workstations, including such considerations as user authentication and resources for those with disabilities.
Details