1. THE ULTIMATE FLIP Library as part of the Learning Commons Lisa McDaniels Southern Maine Community College

2. How did we get here?

3. First, some context

4. Brief History of SMCC  1946-198?  Maine Vocational Technical Institute  Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute  198?-2003  Southern Maine Technical College  2003- present  Southern Maine Community College

5. Lead up to Learning Commons  Concurrent upward trends 2003-2012  Enrollment (Fall 2013 FTE: 4200) Traditional-age, transfer-oriented  Demand for academic support/technology  Digitization of library/course materials

6. Lead up to Learning Commons  Concurrent downward trends 2003-2012  College readiness  Persistence/graduation rates  State funding/tuition rates flat

7. Library was an “unmanned silo”

8. Insert Grant Money here…  2010: SMCC was awarded a 5-year Title III grant to improve student success (persistence/graduation)  Learning Commons idea was born; walls came down  People retired; Director hired

9. The Early Years: 2010-2012  What is a Learning Commons?  Does it include..Advising and …Tutoring? Library?  Where is it?  Campus Center – parts of the 1 st and 2 nd floors  Who is in charge?  Director (who also oversaw Academic Advising)

10. Early 2012: Stuff happened

11. Re-defining  Proximity as Priority  In – Library, Tutoring  Out – Advising  Learning Commons Director Do-over  Focus on Library degree/experience  Folding in the Writing Center  Joint project: LC and Writing Across Curriculum Comm

12. Learning Commons Visuals

13. Writing Center

14. Tutoring Area

15. What’s different about this LC ?  Governance model:  Library as partner in the Learning Commons vs. Library as “landlord”  Space:  Boundaries are blurred, fluid  Outcomes/Accountability:  Seen as shared/integrated among all areas

16. How’s that workin’ for ya?  Challenges: Internal/LC staff  Creating integrated mission/identity from scratch  Defining/re-defining roles and responsibilities  Boundaries not strictly delineated  Challenges: Faculty/staff/students  Crafting consistent messaging, getting it out there  Branding the LC; Re-branding the library?  “Why are people talking in the library?”

17. Opportunities Abound!  Student workers lead the way  Research mentors, learning support techs  Partnering with IT on assessment  Programming transcends silos  Disciplinary mash-up  Student activities/IT/Facilities/Bookstore/PR  Shared space is flexible space  Study lounge=Reception/Help=Event space  Writing Center=Group Study Area=Bay Watching

18. Stumbling towards Convergence  Partnerships are the new normal  Libraries without partners are getting squeezed out  Let’s lead this change!