The Information Commons experienced a challenging year in 2008. Like so many other areas, the department experienced many changes in staffing, particularly in areas of leadership. Great team effort resulted in the Information Commons being able to ensure the continuing provision of excellent professional and customer-focused service which students of Holmesglen confidently expect.
Meeting the needs of Students and Staff
Resource provision to meet the needs of students studying degrees, as well as other new course offerings, is always an area of focus and planning for the Information Commons. With new degrees and other courses being offered in 2008, the Information Commons’ collection development policy was reviewed and further developed to ensure the resources available to students accurately reflected the range and balance of courses on offer by Holmesglen.
New technology in the form of streamed videos was successfully trialled in 2008 and as a result, will be expanded in 2009. This technology allows videos to be shown in multiple locations simultaneously, thus enabling more efficient use of resources across the Institute. It also ensures the videos shown in classrooms are the most up to date available, whilst eliminating the need to repair and replace damaged copies.
The range of electronic databases has also been constantly monitored and assessed over 2008, with a view to ensuring best access and outcomes for students. Patterns of usage were regularly reviewed to inform the process. As a result, some previously subscribed titles were not renewed and a range of new titles and packages were trialled and where appropriate subscribed to instead.
Major Projects
As a result of research undertaken in 2007 and ongoing collaboration with the Victorian Association of TAFE Libraries, Zita Youens, Manager of the Information Commons, co-authored a report which was published in 2008. The report is titled “Towards a Learning Commons: Modelling a transformation of library services and information resources provision in the Vocational Education Sector”.
This report has formed the basis of a major project to transform Holmesglen’s Information Commons into a Learning Commons, which will further support and enhance students’ learning experience whilst studying at Holmesglen. Whilst Holmesglen has delivered library services through the Information Commons model very successfully since 2000, the Learning Commons model recognises and acknowledges the role of social learning which characterises the modern student. It also recognises the impact of physical space on this process. 2008 has been a year of planning and preparing for this transformation, which will be further developed and launched in 2009.
Alliances and Partnerships
Information Commons’ staff have been active in undertaking leadership roles in professional associations related to their work at Holmesglen. These alliances and partnerships are vital in keeping staff up to date with professional opportunities and developments in the library and information services field.
Judy Storan, Lending Services Co-ordinator, chaired the Lending Services Interest Group, which is a network of lending services professionals representing all Universities and TAFEs in Victoria.
Stephen Harrison, Manager of Technical Services and Systems was the president of the SirsiDynix User Group of the Asia Pacific Region. Stephen was sponsored by SirsiDynix to attend the European/African International User Group meeting in Southampton in May, representing users of the APAC region. Zita Youens, Manager of the Information Commons also undertook the role of chair of the Victorian Association of TAFE Libraries in 2008.
Upgrading Facilities and Equipment
The number of group discussion rooms at Chadstone, Building 8 Information Commons was increased from three to seven in 2008, to meet the increasing demand for group discussion and working space for students. The increased number was heavily utilised, particularly towards the end of each study term, for group work. When the demand was not so high, these rooms were available for individual student use for quiet study and were well utilised for this purpose.
