1. Cendrella Habre, Director, RNL
Feb. 24, 2010

2. Inauguration Sept. 19, 2005
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 2

3. OUR STUDENTS TODAY
MILLENIALS
• DIGITAL NATIVES:
2. Totally dependent on technology
3. Different (for example: new language for texting,
enforced new terminology in the English language,
i.e., to Google, to Facebook, etc.), smart, successful,
confident, team-oriented, full of unshakeable
opinions, etc.
4. Social/Active learners
5. Love to be engaged in the teaching and learning
process, etc.
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 3

4. THE MILLENIALS STUDENTS
How do they think?
• In a study conducted at the University of
Rochester in 2007 whereby undergraduate
students were totally engaged in the design of
an “ideal library space”, many of the designs
had “creative” elements, such as: massage
tables, fountains, gardens, game tables,
fireplaces, sofas, beanbags, ottomans, food
delivery service, etc.
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 4

5. LIBRARY MISSION
• “CHANGE” is the main issue here
• Understand Millennials
• Keep up with them
• Thus, direct impact on Learning Spaces design
and functions
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6. RNL
The RIGHT BUILDING @ the RIGHT TIME
• Open for fresh thinking
• Nice internal and external views
• Natural lighting
• Variety of study environment
• Different colors
• Informal and formal furniture (yet ergonomic)
• Wired furniture
• Comfortable and cozy (a family room kind of feel)
• ADA (or similar) compliant
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7. RNL
Public Areas
The Library is 13 floors
1. Study places: big enough to enable students to
use print and electronic resources together, take
notes, accommodate pencil cases, iPods, water
bottles/coffee, snacks, etc. (fl. 8 – 13)
2. Group study areas (fl. 4 – 6, 12 & 13)
3. Quiet/Silence area (fl. 10 & 11)
4. Multimedia Room (fl. 8)
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8. RNL
Public Areas
5. Smart classroom (fl. 8)
6. Conference/Videoconferencing Rooms for public
use (fl. 13)
• Open stacks
• Show cases (Art Gallery) (Lobby area)
• Desktops, Printers, scanners, photocopy
machines on ea. floor
• Laptops (Lending via Circulation Desk – Lobby
area)
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9. RNL -- Entrance
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10. RNL – Open Stacks
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11. RNL – Serials
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12. RNL – Lounge Seating
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13. RNL -- Showcases
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14. RNL – Natural Lighting
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15. RNL – Comfortable/Cozy
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16. RNL – Individual Studying
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17. RNL – Group Studying
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18. RNL – Conference Rooms
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19. What is an Information Commons/Learning
Commons/Student Commons
• “In its most general sense, the Information Commons is a one-stop service
center, a teaching and learning environment designed to become the heart
of the university library. Surrounded by the most comprehensive repository
of print and digital information resources on campus, the Information
Commons draws together students, faculty, technologists, librarians,
writing tutors, instructional designers and other key stakeholders.
Duncan & Woods, “Creating the Information Commons” internal
document: Pace University, June 5, 2004: p3.
• In plain words, the “common” is an active student-centered learning
environment, where students are able to complete their research in one
area, from the initial stages of resource retrieval to the final stage of
producing their papers or projects of course with the help of experts, i.e.,
reference, IT and research librarians.
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 19

20. QUESTION?
Is the computer lab in a library considered an
information/learning commons?
• Perhaps we are getting into the age when
learning commons = library and
library = learning commons ....
• HUB: where all the excitement exists in a
library, i.e., computer center, classroom, café,
research help, IT help, writing center,
Information literacy, etc.
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 20

21. RNL
InfoCommons Area or HUB (fl. 8)
• 83 Desktops ( including 10 dedicated to Graduate Students, &
17 in classroom)
• All Desktops have Office, Adobe Professional, SPSS, & Internet
access
• 1 Scanner, 8 Printers (B&W, Color), 1 Photocopy machine
• Online Resources Help
• Reference Help
• No café; yet snacks and drinks are allowed in all floors
Note: 124 desktops, 3 scanners, 24 printers, 9 photocopy
machines distributed in all floors + 13 Laptops for lending
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22. RNL – Computer Center
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23. RNL – Computer Center/Reference
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24. RNL -- Classroom
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25. RNL – Research Assistance
In-Person/Training Sessions/Live Chat/LibGuides
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26. RNL – Circulation Statistics
Fall 2009 Fall 2010 Percentage
Attendance 144498 182693 34%
Outgoing books 14026 13743 -2%
Circulation transactions 31454 28763 -6%
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27. RNL – Serials Statistics
2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013
Print/RNL 692 502 402 (-16%) 322 (-18%) 250 (-19%)
Print/Byblos 614 455 380 (-20%) 310 (-20%) 250 (-22%)
Print to E/RNL 61 173
Print to E/Byblos 38 157
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28. Additional Resources
• http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/library/aic/g
• http://ic.indiana.edu/gallery.html
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=university%20of
• Etc.
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29. Questions?
Feb. 24, 2010 RNL_LAU 29