Three collaborative workstations will be installed in Catawba College's Corriher-Linn-Black Library before the start of the '16-'17 academic year thanks to a federal grant the facility received under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSAT). Catawba's award for $17,382 was made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources."
Catawba was one of 48 libraries across the state of North Carolina to receive these federally funded awards that are designated for projects that advance literacy and lifelong learning; expand access to library resources and expertise; promote partnerships and collaboration; and digitize materials important to the cultural heritage of North Carolina.
McKinzie
According to Corriher-Linn-Black Library Director Steve McKinzie, the collaborative workstations will consist of wide tables with a single large screen and a number of chairs that can accommodate students using several Microsoft Surface Tablets and/or laptops. The three workstations together will create and Collaborative Commons where students can work together on group projects -- presentations, websites, and collaborative writings projects, etc.
"Although collaboration itself is nothing new and can occur in face-to-face conversations and over the web, collaborative workstations provided by this funding will take interactive collaboration to a new level on our campus," McKinzie said. "Such stations enable students in an informal and relaxed group setting to consider a host of options. They can explore online resources together, create their own websites, and actively develop state-of-the art presentations within a rich collaborative environment."
This project to create a Collaborative Commons in the Corriher-Linn-Black Library involved forming partnerships between various academic departments to create a space that will enhance teaching, learning, technology, and lifelong learning. The result will be a flexible social learning environment that McKinzie hopes will inspire student innovation and creativity.
