Purpose – Libraries and library professionals face multiple challenges in meeting user needs in the second decade of the new millennium. This is particularly true in academic libraries where students and faculty demand and expect fast, easy, and seamless access to information as well as flexible, comfortable places to work alone as well as collaboratively with colleagues, friends, classmates, and instructors. These same patrons often require the assistance of information specialists to navigate a library’s increasingly large array of online resources. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides historical context and reviews recent trends in the area in the area of learning and study spaces in academic libraries. It also cites the successful information commons at the author’s home institution, Loyola University Chicago, examining its first six years of operation and projecting changes in its next half decade. Findings – The past 15 plus years have seen a major shift in philosophy in the USA and in other parts of the globe in terms of the importance of “library as space” in enhancing the role of the college and university library. As a result, academic institutions, at the urging of librarians, have created spaces known as information commons, learning commons, research commons, etc. in response to user needs for access to technology, group work, social interaction, and knowledge creation. Originality/value – The information commons in all its forms has not been static, indeed it has matured, adapting over time to changing technologies, patron needs, and pedagogies.

Abstract:Typical discussions of academic library resource sharing focus on activities between and among institutions: interlibrary loan, reciprocal borrowing, document delivery, group acquisitions, etc. But there is another equally important type of cooperation, i.e. working with other campus units to provide better service, more convenience, and enhanced resources for library users. Sometimes referred to as campus collaboration or convergence, this activity also advances institutional priorities, in particular that of student success. Library partners include information technology services, student development, writing centers, academic departments, and centers for teaching excellence, among others. This paper explores these relationships, their advantages and disadvantages, goals, the importance of assessment, project planning, etc. Types of collaboration are presented to illustrate the possibilities. The author concludes by encouraging cooperative activity of this nature, emphasizing the need to collaborate, not compete, with other campus units.

No abstract

Since the early 1980s, breakaway training has been synonymous with many prevention and management of violence and aggression (PMVA) training programmes in social care and NHS settings. However, for almost three decades, this community has continued to accept a training approach that has been largely unsupported by a robust underpinning methodology or evidence base. The validity of this historical training approach will be examined in context with the available literature, and will seek to identify the fundamental flaws that have been inherent in the traditional system. This paper will conclude by making some practical suggestions on how the efficacy of personal protective training may be improved, based on the emerging findings from other scientific fields.

No abstract