Discussion - Learning Commons as Mall

Crompton, Marc

It struck me as I continue to read The New Learning Commons, Where Learners Win! that the learning commons could be likened to a mall and that that analogy might be useful to help me think through all of the implications to the school environment.  In my school, we have our traditional library that contains a number of computer work stations and table space for 70ish students.  In some respects, it is leaning toward a Learning Commons although the furniture is heavy and is not flexible and the shelving also restricts the use of space.  But surrounding the library is many of the other services discussed in the book as part of the learning commons: counselors, our Director of Learning (teacher development), our resource teachers, our school nurse, heads of each grade and our academic administration.  I thought that one of the simplest things to do would be to blow out all of the walls to the library and voila! - instant learning commons.  Sort of...

Of course there are implications: many of the shelves are against these walls, how secure is the collection once the learning commons is truly open, what about privacy in terms of those who need to see the nurse or counseling staff?  But this thought process got me thinking more about comparing a learning commons to a mall.  In a mall, you have all your services around a central common area.  Everything is open and exposed.  It can be noisy and it has a certain generic feel to it.  This would contrast with the more traditional street with store fronts.  These spaces are distinct.  They are more personal.  When you go to a mall you go for a product or a service.  When you go to a store on a street, you go to see someone about something.  Traditional stores often have that personal touch: the coffee pot at the back of the hardware store where "the guys" meet on a Saturday morning before heading off to do home renos.  Malls can be a gathering space, but you meet others in the space and might avail yourself of the services.

I'm not sure if this analogy is fair, but there seem to be enough parallels to make it useful.  I recognize that I'm probably biasing toward the more traditional store front (I'm not a huge fan of malls) but I do think that both concepts have something to offer.  Is a learning commons one or the other?  Is is something in between?  Or is it neither?  I would love some other thoughts...