WORKSHOPS
Designing Learning and Collaborative Spaces for Libraries
By Jeff Schrader and Susan Schnuer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, U.S.A.
This practical workshop will give an overview of design elements to consider when planning a learning or information commons in an academic or public libraries. Participants will work in small groups to design collaborative learning spaces. Each group will receive feedback on their plan. Participants in the workshop will also have the opportunity to tour the construction site of the new University Library at the National Institute of Technology Silchar.
Scholarly Commons: Supporting Research for Faculty and Students
By Paula Kaufman & William Mischo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Libraries are designing and creating new teaching and learning spaces, including enhanced digital environments that support active engagement with students and faculty.
This workshop will focus on services and spaces that support the research work of faculty and students, using the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a case study. Beginning with the Library’s vision for its Scholarly Commons and role in creating a campus collaboration to develop the Research Data Support program and moving to the development of a discipline-specific service, Grainger Library Information and Design Center, workshop participants will interact with workshop leaders to explore possible models for their own institutions
Community Library and Resource Centers : Self-sustained through Networking and Partnerships
By Geeta Malhotra, Nahid Jubair and Smita Rai, READ India
READ India believes in alleviating poverty by providing Education, Enterprise and Community Development at the doorsteps of rural communities. The READ model is tested in Nepal and replicated in India in 2007.
READ empowers rural communities by providing them the opportunities to have access to information/knowledge through its well-established Libraries, having the needed books for all in the community; access to information technology by setting up the ICT Lab in the READ Centers with free internet access. The Education programme is supported by a small social enterprise so that the READ Centers are self-sustained. The self-sustained programme is strengthened by providing skill-based trainings to the local communities to manage the social enterprise. The programme is holistic with focus on community development having well-defined programmes on Education, Health, Agriculture, Livelihood and Women Empowerment. READ works with every community for 5 years or more to empower them to manage READ Centers on their own through strong network and partnership.
READ believes that instead of re-inventing the wheel again and again on various programmes, it is better to learn and strengthen its programmes by partnering with various like-minded organizations, institutions and universities to bring the knowledge at the doorsteps of the rural communities.
READ India has 15 Community Library and Resource Centers in India in 8 States. The model is based on strong partnerships with Community, Organisations, Corporations, Government and Experts. The session will be dealt on sharing case studies, successful models and impact of READ Centers on Education, Health, Livelihoods and small-scale enterprises for self sustaining the programmes as well as the Centers.
READ India has developed partnerships at the International, National and at the Community level to provide the requisite knowledge and support to READ Centers. There are many case studies that will be shared during the above mentioned session and would also like to learn from the participants how READ can add value to its model.