Tag Archives: learning commons

Academic, General

St. John's Alcuin Library is under construction!

public-domain-images-free-stock-photos-high-quality-resolution-downloads-public-domain-archive-10Time for an update! Beginning May 9th and scheduled to be completed by January 2017, the Alcuin Library at St. John’s University will be undergoing a renovation and addition.

This article from the St. Cloud Times explains the project will cost $25 million and will add 22,000 square feet.

There are three main goals the renovation and addition of a learning commons hope to fulfill:

  1. Allow students to study and mingle together
  2. Help students access emerging technologies while guided by input from professionals
  3. Accommodate the changing teaching and learning styles that encourage collaboration

The updated library will also feature more opportunities for group and creative work, with a 3-D printer, media studio, and virtual reality devices.

Finally, the writing and data analysis assistance available to students will be located in the library for easier access.

Check out the article for links to floor plans and more information!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/neduyy4

 

General, School Media Specialist

Ever heard of your school library as "third place?"

If your students, staff, and teachers think of your school media center as their third place, that trendsis a very cool thing. But, what does it mean?

Quite simply, home is your first place, work or school is your second place, and your third place is where you go to “hang out” with friends, collaborate with your peers, where you meet for quiet discussion or friendly debate. The tricky bit is….can a school media center be a third place when it is also part of a second place. The answer is yes!  The following article tells you how, with examples and additional readings too.  Read the full article here.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/lfpv7xn, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0