Meeting Students Where They Are: Enhancing the Library's Physical and Virtual Presence at High Point University

Shared by Julianne McCall-Bramley

Pace, M.  (2010). Meeting Students Where They Are: Enhancing the Library’s Physical and Virtual Presence at High Point University.  North Carolina Libraries (Online), 68 (2), 15-17.

http://www.ncl.ecu.edu/index.php/NCL/article/viewFile/308/410

I came across the article about High Point University and wanted to share it.  When the university had an opportunity to create a satellite library in order to manage the overcrowding at the campus’s main library, they utilized blueprints for a learning commons as well as a virtual learning commons.  Although they do have some basic reference books and popular titles available at this library, it is mostly a place for online research and studying.  It is a large area with lots of seating and a librarian is on duty to assist students.  What is interesting about this library is the fact that they decided to “embed academics” into student life and recreation by placing the learning commons in a non-academic building.  This means that the learning commons is in a building that also has several options for dining & entertainment, such as a bakery and a movie theater, just to name a few.   They also expressed that the investment was quite manageable since they only needed staff, furniture, and some technology.  This library is open 24/7.

I did some further research to see if there was anything current posted about the success of this commons and the only thing that I was able to find were several job postings for “evening librarians.”  At the end of the article there was a discussion about some of the challenges to providing chat references and it seems that the university was looking into several options for improving that service.

And here’s High Point’s official press release from 2009.

http://www.highpoint.edu/blog/2009/12/17/hpu-adds-the-learning-commons-satellite-library-in-university-center/