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On May 31st we visited in the morning the University of Waterloo. We were warmly welcomed at the Dana Porter Library, or as students call it: DP. I made quite some notes at the presentation of Nancy Collins, the outreach and communications manager. They organized a few simple, though effective, campaigns to enhance student commitment and understanding, e.g. It’s library day, a photo and video contest (why do your love the library?), and the very popular library buttons. Quote from Doris Lessing I found at the glass wall: “Think wrongly if you please; but in all cases think for yourself”. You can find the results of these campaigns back throughout the library spaces, where the photos or installations the students created are used.
In the afternoon we visited Conestoga College Library in Doon, one of the university of applied sciences in Ontario. A real struggle (20 staff, 500 study places, for some 9000 students) for space out there. There are four liaison librarians, working on the specific information literacy programs for the colleges. The special learning commons area was separated from the library. Striking for me was the fact that the library was renamed library again, whereas it used to be the learning resource centre. It seems to be a step back.
At the learning commons a writing centre was located; students can book sessions to guide them through their paper writing, for math support and there was a specific area for disabled students, where students not only find dedicated software, but also customized hardware spots.

 

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