Toward a Learning Commons: Where Learners are Central by P. Harland

 posted by Julianne McCall-Bramley

Harland, P.  (2011).  Toward a Learning Commons: Where Learners are Central.  Teacher Librarian, 38 (4), 32-36.

This article focuses on changing the traditional library model. This particular school realizes that they need to redefine their current library to meet the needs of the school and its students. They know they must prepare students for a certain type of learning the learning of the future, so they decide to get rid of what's old and not being used and welcome the new. The new space or learning commons must reflect the types of technologies that students utilize. This school district had help from a professor from Plymouth State University who has been involved in creating Learning Commons areas in other schools.  With all the changes that they made, they have succeeded in making their space learner centered and incorporating all kinds of new technology into this new learning. They felt they had succeeded when a group of visitors came in and felt that their space looked like an “information mall” since there were kids everywhere and everyone was working, learning, and doing something different, and most importantly: utilizing all areas of the library.