How Do New Zealand University Libraries Understand and Interpret the Idea of Information Commons

Abstract

In New Zealand, not every academic library has a separate building for an Information Commons and some libraries even do not have an Information Commons. Some of the Information Commons are located inside the libraries and a small number of Information Commons are in a separate building. In the last ten years, the usage of library spaces has changed dramatically. Academic libraries started to provide student electronic computing services and application software inside the library area and others planned to set up an Information Commons building. The electronic services provided from these two places seem similar, so why do some academic libraries need to separate an area called "Information Commons" to provide electronic services? Are there any services that they cannot offer in the original library area? This study concerns and focuses on the "how do New Zealand University libraries and polytechnics understand and interpret the idea of Information Commons?" A quantitative survey was sent to correspondent surveyed librarians from eight university and five open polytechnics to ask for their opinions about what they think about Information Commons or the area for computing services that is offering from their institutions. It gives the opportunity for other non-surveyed institutions to consider and re-think "Are Information Commons suitable for their teaching and learning purposes?" The comments will also help other library planners to understand whether it is considered necessary to have a separate information commons, or whether converging services just means that the academic library is evolving. The survey results show that academic libraries are converging their electronic services. The heavy demand to use the information tools and to provide a convenient one-stop-environment are some of the reasons why academic libraries would prefer a separate area for student to come and use electronic services and an Information Commons is an ideal area to supplement their electronic services.