Abstract:Purpose -This review describes the services offered in an information commons that primarily serves undergraduate students at a large research university. This paper provides background information on the implementation of a learning or information commons and describes the effect of the commons environment on reference services and environment and highlights the importance of a strong relationship between libraries and information technology providers in developing successful public services in an information commons. Design/methodology/approach -This article describes the transformation of anUndergraduate Library into the Information Commons and describes the implications for library services in a public services partnership.Findings -The Information Commons environment is one part of a library system that is evolving in response to and in anticipation of user needs. Practical implications -This review documents a successful partnership in creating aninformation commons that primarily serves undergraduate students at a large research university.Originality/value -The partnering approach in developing an information commons can result in a cohesive suite of services that support students. The implications for reference services provide insight for other libraries that are planning information or learning commons.

Purpose – This case study aims to describe the renovations and intended functions for rooms; explain the different design approaches implemented for the different end-user populations; provide an overview of traditional, new and non-library services for which spaces were designed; briefly explain training and planning; and describe the spaces and services that function well and those that do not. Indiana University Libraries completed two significant renovations in late 2014. They renovated the Learning Commons, which is a 27,000 square feet (SQF) facility designed to meet the needs of undergraduate students, and they created the Scholars’ Commons, which is a 15,000 SQF facility supporting graduate student and faculty research. Design/methodology/approach – Both spaces were thoughtfully designed to support new and traditional library services, as well as services supported by non-library units. Staff training and service planning took place during the construction process, with the goal of having outstanding services operating on opening day. Findings – The goal of creating flexible space was achieved, but it presents organizational and staffing challenges. Libraries seeking to create multifunctional environments must consider the practical implications of daily operation and use of such spaces. Research limitations/implications – This case study describes two library environments that are in their first year of operation and the assessment of the use and impact is underway. The stage of the work limits the research to be reported upon. Practical implications – The spaces described provide very practical information for other academic libraries that seek to renovate spaces and provide innovative services. Originality/value – Academic libraries that are in the planning stage of a learning space should take note of the variety of spaces, strategies for working with cavernous spaces, use of natural light and “bring-your-own-device” interior designs. In addition, the service hub model implemented in the Scholars’ Commons is a unique approach for digital scholarship centers.

Libraries have grown with Digital Humanities and they have evolved their support structures and developed the expertise required to partner with faculty. This chapter explores the library models that have been established at major research universities by surveying directors of public services of libraries who are members of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). The results of a survey of CIC Libraries are discussed and the findings are shared. The chapter offers a literature review of digital humanities which the authors refer to as digital scholarship or DS, discusses and describes models for partnering and supporting digital scholarship, and illustrates how large academic libraries at research universities are meeting challenges associated with DS services.

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This chapter describes how the Indiana University Bloomington Libraries created a database-driven Web system that enables librarians and staff to publish content to the libraries’ public Web site that maintains a consistent design and places the content into a logical and consistent structure. The system comprises the libraries’ public Web site interface, the content manager (CM) administrative interface, and an intranet. The new Web system was designed to replace a decentralized process that was previously followed to maintain a large Web site of 8,000-plus static HTML pages. The new system made it possible for their large decentralized organization to present a unified and well-designed public interface on the Web. The authors describe the technical and conceptual development of the content management aspect of the system with the hope of increasing understanding of content management systems.