According to Yahoo! News this morning, the website VirtualTourist.com has come up with a list of the World’s Top 10 Ugliest Buildings and Monuments. Reuters did not endorse this list.” [Disclaimer - I went to VirtualTourist.com and couldn't find this list myself.] Here’s the Yahoo! story:  Travel Picks: 10 top ugly buildings and monuments – Yahoo News

What caught my attention is that one unfortunate library, Birmingham Central Library in Birmingham, England, made the list. Naturally, I felt bad for them! However, after visiting its website,  I want to send to Birmingham Central Library a message of solidarity. The reason stated for placing this monumental library building at number nine on the ugliest buildings list is its “Brutalist” style of architecture. Here’s a photo from the library’s website: http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=1581&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=260

Brutalist Style Library

We too have a Brutalist style library.

As we’ve been planning for a major remodel and expansion of our library over the past two years, I’ve actually come to develop an appreciation for this style. In essence our entire campus is built in this style, and, while some joke that it was done so that the buildings could be used as a prison if the University should fail, I think there is a certain appropriateness to both the aesthetics and scale of our buildings. We are perched on a hilltop out in the prairie with awesome views of the mountains to the West and the plains to the East. Our library is definitely a strong landmark! And, I argue, its stark style and vintage 1960s look is almost “cool” again. We definitely plan to enhance but not try to disguise the original style of the building.

However, I am looking forward to better lighting and less “vintage” furnishings!

Brutalist Libraries of the world unite!!

As we contemplate our upcoming relocation and remodel, we are attempting to find spaces around campus for our faculty and staff. One obvious solution has been that the subject liaisons could have offices in the building where their faculty and student constituents are located. I was interested to read this post on the ACRLog about an experience with this. It seems there could be some benefit to this arrangement.

http://acrlog.org/2008/05/31/office-hours/

Hoping we can avoid janitor’s closets -

Rhonda

Hi Everyone,

We are making some progress in planning our remodel. As we move through the process, we will be sharing all the information we have with you via our website: http://library.colostate-pueblo.edu

Incidentally, our website itself will be changing in early July. You can check out the beta site at http://staging.colostate-pueblo.edu/devLibrary/index.asp. Look in the top right hand corner for the latest information about the remodel!

For now, I can tell you that:

1. We are close to hiring the Project Manager who will then help with all the rest of the planning. (Thank goodness)

2. We are planning to vacate the building by December if all goes well.

3. We will likely have to store the print collection off-site and will be looking for your input about how best to minimize the inconvenience this may cause.

4. We should move back into the new space in spring 2011!

Here we go!

Rhonda

Believe it or not, it’s a reality. Over a year of hard work and campaigning has paid off. The Governor has authorized our request of approximately $22,000,000 to renovate and expand our library! To see the concept drawings and read the program plan, check our website: http://library.colostate-pueblo.edu/foundation.asp

As we go through the process, i will let you know how it’s going and post photos, etc. on this blog.

Here we go!!

The latest edition of EDUCAUSE QUARTERLY (Number 4, 2007) includes an article called Commons 2.0: Library Spaces Designed for Collaborative Learning. The article is valuable because it reinforces for the higher ed community what librarians have been saying for a decade now about space planning for the library.  It talks about human-centered design and the shift towards problem-based learning. The article does a good job of defining the Information Commons of the future, outlining five guiding principles: open, free, comfortable, inspiring, and practical.

What I missed seeing here was the expansion of this concept to include the addition of learning support services such as tutoring that would have transformed the envisioned space into a true Learning Commons as defined in previous posts. Canadian libraries are at the forefront of this trend, which I find very promising. For an example of a Learning Commons 2.0, take a look at this one at McMaster University.

Happy Labor Day Weekend. Here is a picture of the almost finished product. We are still going to order signs and are still waiting on new desk chairs, but you get the picture. So far, the LIC has been met with positive response!

In addition to the physical changes, we are working to make administrative changes as well. Together with staff from Information Technology Services and First-Year Programs, we have formed the Library Information Commons Steering Committee. This group is working on issues regarding cross-training of staff, communication amongst units, and setting learning objectives for interactions with students. Two of our faculty members will be presenting on this last initiative at the CAL Conference in November.

Come up and see us!

Rhonda

For everyone who expressed interest in seeing pictures of the tables and study carrels, here is a photo of the study carrel. Unfortunately, the 3 x 5 tables are already gone to someone on our campus. I’m sorry, I know those were really in demand!

The carrels are single sided with an upright back that can be placed flush against a wall. Each carrel is 24” deep by approximately 40” wide. They do not have sides. As you can see, the chairs have black plastic molded backs and metal legs with upholstered seats in a variety of colors. They are in fairly good shape and are actually quite comfortable to sit in.

Please respond by email to rhonda.gonzales@colostate-pueblo.edu if you are interested in carrels or chairs that you can come and pick up.

For those of you who have seen our library before, here’s a picture of what we’ve been doing lately. (And one of the reasons I’ve been quiet on the blogging front.)

The new Library Information Commons will include group presentation rooms, laptop study tables, group and individual study areas, the reference collection and library classroom, and the First-Year Student Center.

Come by in a few weeks and see us!

Rhonda

Earlier this week on the ACRLog, StevenB posted a question about the difference between the Information Commons and the Learning Commons. He says he used to understand the difference, which he describes below. But now he is not so sure. My understanding of the difference is exactly as he describes below, so I’m not sure what the confusion is all about? Maybe, he is really questioning the perceived value of the Learning Commons?

Steven, do you think their is no value in the added academic support services that a Learning Commons implies?

Others who have implemented a true Learning Commons in your library, do you find students take advantage of the added services? Is there more serendipity? Do students come in for tutoring and stay to work on a computer? Or do students working on a project stumble on to the writing center? These are the sorts of consequences I would expect as a result of co-locating services near each other.

If this is not the outcome, I’d like to know because we are currently planning for our new library complete with both Information Commons and Learning Commons. Or maybe it’s an Information Commons and Learning Center? Of course it’s all the Library!

Seekin’ An Answer ‘Bout The Commons
“The learning commons on the other hand had grander visions. The big difference is in “co-located services”. The learning happens at the learning commons because multiple academic support services are located there; tutoring, the writing center, educational technology and others are invited to share space in the learning commons or they have scheduled hours there.”

Hi Everyone,

I came to work this morning and realized I hadn’t posted in quite a while. That doesn’t make for a very exciting Blog! Frankly, I just haven’t been making time lately to keep up with reading my daily blogroll postings. That’s usually where I get ideas on what to post. I’ve had a couple of short weeks, due to being out of town and taking a day off for Christmas shopping, so I guess I need to get back on schedule (which probably won’t happen until January 8, actually.)

Two weeks ago I attended a fantastic two day workshop hosted by CLiC called the Coaching Edge. It was very eye opening. I hadn’t really considered my relationships, both personal and professional, in terms of “coaching”. However, I realize now that many of my interactions with others including co-workers, employees, and even family members could be viewed in this light. The workshop validated some strategies I have already been using, albeit subconsciously and also taught some new approaches, which I think will be invaluable!

Last week, I spent one whole day meeting with our architects. We are getting close to finishing the program plan for our building renovation. We are looking at completely renovating the building and adding between 20,000 and 30,000 square feet to the building. The architects have been fabulous. We are working with Joe Bilotta from JBA, Inc., Patrick Johnson from H&L Architects, and Geoff Freeman from Shepley-Bulfinch. I have really appreciated their tenacity in getting us to think outside of our current “box” and not to be constrained by current practices. Some of the small changes we have already made to our building such as adding a coffee cart and more open student study spaces has already increased our building traffic by over 20%, so I feel confident that the plans we are working on to expand these offerings will be well-met by our patrons. We have agreed on a strategy of planning the new facility not based on traditional library functions so much as on levels of social interaction, levels of technology, and levels of support needed. Also, we are working to closely integrate ITS and academic support services with traditional library services to create a very organic student success focused space.

Today I met with other Colorado Academic Library Consortium members to continue planning for our 2nd Colorado Academic Library Summit to be held May 31st/June 1st in Denver. The topic, which I’m very excited about focus on changing landscapes in academic libraries and will include tracks on changing cultures and values within libraries, changing technologies, and the need for better outreach and collaboration. We are still working out the details including inviting speakers so I’ll give more details soon.

The rest of this week we are just winding down to Christmas break and trying to finish up book ordering and other collection projects. I also have to get my ACRL statistics done by Friday!!!

Best wishes for a Blessed Christmas!