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Davis Renovation Planning Team

The Davis Centre Information Commons Planning Team

Terms of Reference

Context

Thousands of students enter the Davis Centre Library daily to use information resources and services. Study space, both individual and group, is one of the 2 highest ranked library services (UW Library User Needs Survey, 1994). Available seats in Davis Library are 60 - 90% occuped at anytime (UW Library Study Space Report, 1998). Existing carrels and study tables, however, do not readily accommodate the information technology that is essential for student coursework and assignments. Davis study space also provides limited opportunities for Library staff, students and instructors to interact and for students to develop their information literacy skills.

With funds that may become available through Campaign Waterloo, and taking advantage of other funding as opportunity allows, the Library plans to upgrade the physical and information technology environments in the Davis Centre Library. A key goal is to create an Information Commons that includes a Flexible Learning Lab.

As part of the Library's preliminary planning, Anne Fullerton has investigated information commons concepts and installations in other universities and has developed a succinct statement on a vision of a Davis Centre Information Commons (see below). The Library Budgets and Planning Committee has established a Davis Centre Information Commons Planning Team to consider design and cost details.

Scope and terms of reference

The team will focus in the immediate term on developing plans for the Information Commons and will take into account the broader Library goal of enhancing and modernizing the entire Davis Centre Library student learning environment.

The team will keep in mind possible future implications and opportunities for Porter as plans are developed in the Davis Centre Library context and will document ideas and recommendations.

The Davis Centre Information Commons Planning Team will:

The timeframe is fluid because of the uncertainty of funding. If special funding were to be acquired sooner rather than later, the Library would need to move quickly into implementing a plan. In order for the Library to be in a state of readiness, the Planning Team will prepare a draft and interim report for the Library Budgets & Planning Committee as early as possible in the fall 2002 term.

Membership:

At a future stage in the planning process, the team will consult:

Sponsor: Library Budgets and Planning Committee (with Mark Haslett and Susan Routliffe as administrative contacts.)

Davis Centre Information Commons
High Touch with High Tech

Our goal is to humanize and enrich the learning process for UW students by organizing their library workspace and our service delivery around the integrated digital environment. Using networked wireless laptop computers, our students will be able to compile information, compose and complete papers, tabulate data, design web pages and collaborate in groups - all without leaving the library. At the same time, dedicated, knowledgeable library staff will be available to walk the student through the entire process from the identification to the final presentation of needed information in whatever format it exists - print, digital, cd-rom, microfiche etc. Through this expert assistance, students can learn the information literacy skills critical for their careers.

Anne Fullerton, Project Chair

August 10, 2005