Reconfiguring LITS Spaces

For the last few years LITS has worked with Facilities Management to reconfigure spaces in our complex that match the evolving models of learning and collaborative activities of the Mount Holyoke Community. Our first phase of the project occurred during the summer of 2003 when we built the Information Commons on the 4^th floor of the Miles-Smith building. The Information Commons offers a welcoming environment for our community where one can engage in collaborative learning, independent inquiry, and social networking. This area quickly became a destination of choice for our students. A campus-wide survey we conducted in 2006 indicated 22% of the students responded they used the Information Commons between 1-3 times/week and 20% used it more than 3 times/week. In addition, 65% of the student told us they were “satisfied” with the resources and services in the Information Commons.

We continued our renovation project during the summer of 2006 with the creation of 15 small group study rooms at the back of Williston stack levels 2, 3 and 5. These rooms were created in response to the request for quiet study areas. Each room is furnished with a flexible combination of tables and chairs. All rooms have wireless access, white boards and some have video viewing equipment. Along with that, the library reference desk in the Reading Room was reconfigured to create a more welcoming service point with less of a barrier between the staff and patron.

The MEWS (Mediated Educational Work Space)
The final phase of our renovation focused on the Dwight Corridor.  For many years this space was sub-divided into rooms that functioned as student and faculty computer labs, plus a video editing area. The physical design of the small rooms limited the flexibility of the corridor and made supporting the various areas difficult. Over the past fewyears we have experienced a shift in the type of support questions LITS received from our community, with a significant increase in the desire to create and manipulate multimedia projects. Our goal in this phase of the renovation was to create an open-plan multimedia production and learning space adjacent to the Information Commons.

Increasingly we have observed our faculty’s use of film and video across the curriculum, coupled with our students’ rising desire to study media production and editing techniques. From podcasting to creating digital narratives, our students are living and working in a rich digital environment. The MEWS was designed to provide our students, faculty and staff with access to high-end equipment and support for academic, administrative and extra-curricular multimedia projects. The entire area is intended to support individuals and groups involved in active-learning such as analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluation.

The MEWS is anticipated to be a casual, yet supportive atmosphere that we hope will foster energy and creativity. This spacious area now includes a 16 seat multi-media hands-on teaching space with 2 wall mounted plasma displays; a staffed Digitization Center and a faculty development area.  Additionally, there are two collaborative rooms equipped with computers and a large format display enabling groups of 6-8 to work on projects and edit collaboratively and dynamically. To support multi-media projects digital video cameras, digital still cameras, tripods and other equipment are available to check out from Media Resources.

We understand the key to a successful initiative is flexibility, responsiveness and innovation. LITS looks forward to serving the Mount Holyoke Community in this exciting new space.