Billed as “Your One-Stop Academic Fitness Center,” the new computer lab’s address is http://library.humboldt.edu/learningcommons/index.html.
The unique Learning Commons provides instant access to a host of academic support services: not only the HSU Library and its voluminous resources, but also the Computer Help Desk, Math Tutoring, Media Distribution and a host of Centers: Learning, Advising, Career, Testing, Academic Information and Referral, University Writing and the Student Disability Resource Center. Ready access also is available to the Faculty Development Office, Courseware Development Center, Instructional Media Services and Library Services for Faculty.
The new Commons is designed to provide a flexible and welcoming setting where students, faculty and staff can streamline their academic pursuits and take advantage of expert assistance with assignments, projects and presentations. Correspondingly, users have ready access to technical support for personal computing, multimedia and networking applications, among others.
The Commons is funded initially by the Offices of the President and the Provost (Vice President for Academic Affairs), and every workstation was occupied by a student when President Rollin Richmond and Provost Bob Snyder addressed the inaugural guests March 27. “I can see students are not interested in it at all,” the President laughed.
He added, “This brings students into the Library where we have lots of good staff who can help them learn how to use these new resources, as well as our existing ones. I really look forward to watching this develop with our plans to expand the Learning Commons substantially in the future, and this is a wonderful beginning.”
Provost Snyder and Ray Wang, Interim Dean of the Library, noted that the groundwork is being laid for a new Internet Café adjoining the Commons. “In the meantime, we are thinking of opening what we call a satellite desk, which would include the Learning Center, the Writing Center, the Advising Center and the Career Center” and operate as the schedule of campus activities warrants, Dean Wang said.
Wayne Perryman, chair of the Learning Commons Task Force that was formed last fall, said the project is “all about the students,” a pooling of resources that will expand with a rising number of campus partners during the next several years. The 24 new PC’s on the Library’s first floor are expressly designed for student use and convenience, and are situated to encourage group study as well as independent research, Perryman said. Services currently distributed across campus will henceforth be available under one roof.