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Information Commons opens in Library
August 13, 2004 | |||||
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IU Kokomo has launched the first phase of its Information Commons, a "one-stop shop" for student research and computing services located in the IU Kokomo Library. The computer lab in the Main Building has been emptied, and its 24 computers moved to the Library. On August 2, the campus' IT (Information Technology) help desk moved to the Library's Reference desk as part of the Information Commons. Within two days of the move, walk-up traffic seeking help desk assistance and overall use of the campus computer system had "increased dramatically," said William Yost, vice chancellor for information technology. "This location is so much more central for the campus," he said. "We are taking the technology to the students," said Lisa Schunk, director for Student Computer Services. "Students will not have to leave the library if they have a problem with their account, or if they need a password reset. They can get help with e-mail accounts, ADS accounts, software tutoring, and printing in the Information Commons." The former computer lab's basement location wasn't popular with students, according to Schunk. "The only reason students were using the Main Lab was for the 20 pages of free printing they could get there each day," she said. With the recent installation of VendPrint¨, a print management system, students can print up to 650 free pages per semester from any student computer on campus, including those in the Library. The Information Commons' 13 computers are located in an open area along the southwest wall of the Library's first floor, in close proximity to IT (information Technology) and reference help. "It will be much easier for students," said Library Director John Stachacz. "They can not only get information, but can have people help them critically analyze the information, and then put it in a presentation, all in one place." [Remaining lab computers will be placed in the Library's media viewing room, study rooms, and second floor kiosks.] Instead of turning in a traditional term paper, students now will be able to convert their research findings into a PowerPoint¨ slide presentation or an interactive Web site, using software accessible in the Information Commons. Working with this software can make students "more marketable" upon graduation, Stachacz said. "And that is a better payback for our institutional investment." Stachacz came to IU Kokomo in July after 23 years as a librarian at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Two years ago, Dickinson installed an Information Commons, and he saw measurable proof that library patrons liked the concept. "We had increased gate count. People who wouldn't have used the library before the commons was built got to see what the library offered. Our reference and circulation statistics went up. Requests for bibliographic instruction increased," he said. The IU Kokomo Information Commons should allow the Library staff to become "more interactive" with curricula, Stachacz said. In addition to guiding students in finding course reference materials, librarians can assist with course-specific research assignments that introduce students to online databases or techniques for finding and critically analyzing information. "When a student realizes that they can use a similar search strategy from one course to another, more questions are generated about additional resources they can use," Stachacz said. As a government document depository and as part of the larger Indiana University Library systems, the IU Kokomo Library offers access to many specialized databases, such as EBSCOhost, The Historical New York Times on ProQuest and Lexus/Nexus news service, he noted. "The campus has that small liberal arts feel, but we have access to a wide collection of databases that a smaller independent school couldn't afford." A new IT professional staff member will be hired to coordinate hardware and software support for students. The coordinator will work side-by-side with reference librarians, answering questions on where and how to access information. Professionals from IT and the library fields should mesh well, Stachacz predicted. "Both are both accustomed to offering customer service and solving problems. They just come at [information services] from different angles." The Information Commons will not change the library's floor plan as yet. Eventually, to accommodate the different learning styles of different students, the commons will include both individual computer stations and larger stations where several students can work together on joint projects, Stachacz said. "We'll need larger monitors, so they can all see and discuss the projects on which they are working." With the opening of the Information Commons, IU Kokomo will have more than 75 computer terminals available for patrons' use. The Library will continue to provide its Computer-Assisted Reference Services site, a private room where instructors can direct students in online research on 26 linked terminals. Any resident of the state of Indiana with a valid Indiana driver's license or proof of residency may be issued an IU Kokomo Library borrower's card. The library offers more than 189,000 printed materials; 1,500 magazine subscriptions; and 460,000 items on microfiche. For more information, contact Stachacz at (765) 455-9511 or visit www.iuk.edu/library.
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