A Field Guide to the Information Commons - Softcover

Charles Forrest is Director of Library Facilities Management and Planning at the Emory University General Libraries in Atlanta, Georgia.

Martin Halbert is Director of Digital Innovations at the Emory University General Libraries in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also president of the MetaArchive Cooperative, an international digital preservation collaborative service for cultural memory organizations.

Information commons is an emerging library service model that encompasses the new ways libraries are providing access to information resources, joining collaborative service programs, and redesigning space to support changing user behaviors and patterns of learning. Part 1 offers contributed articles on topics such as the history of information commons in academic libraries, barriers to working and learning, and technology. Part 2, “The Field Guide,” consists of structured entries for information commons in 29 institutions around the world, with statistics and information on purpose, services, software, print resources, staff, funding or budget, publicity, and evaluation. (Booklist, June 2009)

The breadth of topics covered in this guide is admirable: from the history of information commons to their architectural development, to in-depth information about specific information commons projects. Furthermore, the text is well laid out and information is easy to find. (Higher Education Academy Subject Centre For Information)

A consistent format throughout the field guide enables one to compare and contrast features, while the narratives in the first part of the book provide support and guidance in the research of these implementations. This is a valuable resource for any academic library seeking to enhance, implement, or improve an information commons. (American Reference Books Annual, May 2009)