Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Augusta R. Kolwyck Library
Vision for an Information Commons
May 18, 2005
(updated January 28, 2008)

The Augusta R. Kolwyck Library will be reconfigured to incorporate an "Information Commons." 

What is an Information Commons?

• A "one-stop shop" where students can
  • consult with librarians and technical staff at all phases of the research process: 
    • researching information (identifying, selecting, and evaluating information)
    • constructing new knowledge
    • creating digital products that reflect their new knowledge.
  • attend workshops on how to use specific software and hardware.
  • have access to current hardware and software to research topics and create digital products
    • productivity software (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.)
    • multimedia software (audio files, video editing, podcasting, etc.)
  • collaborate to create digital products

The area nearest the Tennessee River will include the following:

• Computer workstations for individual and collaborative use
• Scanners
• Printers (color & black/white)
• Multimedia software such as Adobe Premier
• Productivity software including some combination of:
  • word processing
  • presentations
  • project management
  • databases
  • spreadsheets
  • statistical analysis
  • web authoring
  • programming
  • Geographic Information System
  • standard accessories & plugins
  • adaptive software
  • media plugins (ability to listen to sound files / view videos)
  • ability to save files: burn CDs, USB key etc.
• Software to support college courses such as the software in M-51
• Wireless connectivity
• Laptops that students can check out from the service desk and use in the Library.

Currently, the Library Computer Technician (Bill Norman) trains student workers to staff a Service Desk (printing problems, Microsoft Office problems, etc).  By Fall 2008, the service desk will be supervised by a Librarian / Instructional Technologist (Lori Warren).  The Librarian / Instructional Technologist will also teach technology workshops to students and work with them on creating multimedia products. 

The Service Desk student workers will be trained to:

• Support all software on the computer workstations
• Troubleshoot laptop problems
• Ghost laptops
• Check laptops in and out to students who want to use them in the library
• Provide assistance with printing, Word, Excel, video editing, logging on to eLearn, TigerWeb, etc.

How do we get there?

• Weed the book circulating book collection.  (completed Fall 2005)
• Shift the books to make room for the current periodicals on Rows 10B and 12A.  (completed Fall 2005)
• Take down the flat bookshelves on those rows and put up the slanted periodical shelves. (completed January 2006)
• Put the periodicals on those shelves. (completed January 2006)
• Dismantle the periodicals shelves. (completed Fall 2006)
• Weed the reference book collection.  (completed 2005; again in 2008)
• Weed the bound journals. (completed 2005; again in 2007)
• Move the remaining bound journals to Rows 23A-B. (The location may change)
• Design a Children's Section:
  • Move the PZ's to the Children's Section shelves. (completed Fall 2005)
  • Put the Tennessee Tech books on those shelves. (completed Fall 2005)
  • Keep the section visible from the Circulation Desk. (completed Fall 2005)
  • Ask Betsy Fronk to create seasonal and thematic displays of children's books.
  • Work with the Tennessee Tech Elementary Education faculty and the Child Development Center to present story hours, readings with puppets, etc.

Where will we get the equipment and staff?

• We will submit a proposal for an instructional technology classroom and 6 "collaboration stations" in the 2006-2007 budget request.
  • received 4 "collaboration stations" and 16 chairs in Fall 2006 revised budget; awaiting additional wiring to put them in their designated locations; used with "Anne Frank Exhibit" in Spring 2007
  • submitted a grant request for $47,700 over a three-year period to the Wayne and Ida Bowman Foundation for technology classroom glass walls, tables with laptop garages & chairs - not funded;
• We have requested two Multimedia Workstations and 14 additional computers from the Technology Advisory Committee for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
  • received 4 Multimedia Workstations which are installed and networked (Nov. 2007)
  • received 14 computers
• We need to partner with Greg Jackson, Nora Burke, Percy Parakh, and other Computer Services staff to
  • teach workshops for students on specific software and hardware applications
    • Tom Carson taught Adobe workshops to students in Veterinary Technology. 
    • New Horizons instructor taught PowerPoint to Veterinary Technology students.
  • to train student assistants to provide technical services
  • to discuss what services we want to provide to students with laptops who want to connect to the future campus wifi network. 
• Library staff can teach workshops for students on specific software and hardware applications.
  • Elijah Scott taught PowerPoint and Adobe Professional to Veterinary Technology students in Spring and Fall 2007.
  • Lori Warren will be teaching PowerPoint workshops to classes that request them.

What should we focus on in 2007-2008?

• We should meet with Greg Jackson to develop a mutually beneficial partnership to support increased access to technology for students.
• We must meet with faculty to get more input on what their students need. (Library Committee, Nov. 2007)
• We must meet with student groups to get their input on what students need.
• We should consider requesting $13,000 in September 2007 Revised Budget to enclose 25' x 25' northwest section of library with glass walls. (Plans now call for 25' x 50' glassed area that can be divided into 2 rooms by sliding glass doors)
  • Students, clubs, and classes could give presentations to others. (Speech Contest, Creative Writing Presentations have already happened)
  • The Phoenix could have meetings there.
  • Students could use it as an additional group collaboration space.
• We will request TAF funding for students scanners, digital camcorders, digital cameras, and Mac I-Books to begin piloting workshops and support mechanisms for students creating digital products.  The results of this pilot will help determine how we move forward on the Information Commons.

   

Revised by Vicky Leather, February 8, 2006; March 12, 2007; August 13, 2007, December 3, 2007; January 28, 2008.