In their earliest incarnations, libraries were hubs of community the worlds earliest start-up incubators, in one recent formulation. Community libraries have traditionally hewed closer to this model than academic libraries, but might there be an opportunity, in our current era of challenge and change, to re-emphasize this aspect of the library in a university context? This thinking has led us to the conceptualization of a new Learning and Culture Commons at Lauriers Library. The LCC positions the Library as Lauriers central cultural hub, providing a space for student and professional artists, writers and musicians to develop their work and share it with others. As elements of this vision, we are currently working on the integrations of WLU Press and the Robert Langen Art Gallery into the organizational structure of the Library. This session will explore the evolution of the Learning and Culture Commons project to date, using our experience as a lens for dialogue on the role of academic libraries in the cultural life of the university and beyond.
Learning Outcomes
Opportunities to engage in dialogue and reflect on the cultural role of libraries at universities and in support of the university community and the community at large
Insights regarding the potential and pitfalls we have encountered in building the Learning and Culture Commons
Insights regarding the successful integration of libraries with complementary units such as university galleries and presses
