Turning an Academic Library into an Information Commons

Academic libraries are going through a massive change. When I attended USC more than 10 years ago, no food was allowed at Thomas Cooper Library, you could not check out laptops and there was no such thing as wireless access. Now you can do all of those things (and go get coffee without going to the Russell House).

Something that is growing in the academic library community is information commons. This is a library that offers vast spaces for students to study (by themselves or in a group); where people can get help with computer problems; and where students can check out not only books but cameras, laptops, Kindles and other tech gadgets. The information commons is to provide both active work among groups and quiet space for those who are working alone. It will also support interactive learning and training and skill-building activities.

Right now, the MUSC Library is in the process of transforming into an information commons (ours will be called Learning Commons). We are currently getting rid of a lot of our books and journals (many of our items are online), moving furniture and organizing to make sure our place makes our students feel comfortable when they arrive. Also, we have our Digital-e project, where students are allowed to check out the latest technologies.

This is an exciting time for academic libraries as many of them are also going to have information commons. This will allow libraries to serve students in ways they have never had before. When a lot of books and journals went online, many people stopped going to academic libraries because they could access them from home. The information commons atmosphere helps bring in students and makes it easier for them to study, complete their work and gather with their classmates.

Even thought we are one of the few medical libraries that will have an information commons, we hope at MUSC to be able to assist our students, faculty and staff as much as possible. Our changes will help make our library more accessible to our current students and entice new students to come to our university.

For examples of information commons (and to stay in the Southeastern Conference spirit), check out the information commons at the University of Kentucky and the University of Georgia.