by Kay Kirscht
Quick Summary
Wilson Studio, University of Minnesota Libraries’ forward-thinking technical lab and experimental space for interdisciplinary University projects, is undergoing final design tweaks and proposals. Construction is slated to begin early 2017.
Wilson Studio, University of Minnesota Libraries’ forward-thinking technical lab and experimental space for interdisciplinary University projects, is undergoing final design tweaks and proposals. Construction is slated to begin early 2017.
Here, we see a shift in the concept of “Library,” transforming from a storehouse of books into an access point endowed with dynamic and technically-equipped spaces for research, work and collaboration.
Claire Stewart, Associate University Librarian for Research and Learning, and the project lead, describes the new studio: “It is a digital lab, and a collaboration studio. University of Minnesota Libraries has a number of new initiatives, leading us to build both areas and collaboration opportunities. We are deepening our investment in Digital Arts, Sciences + Humanities (our “DASH” program), bringing us in to collaborate with faculty interested in using new digital methods and tools for teaching and research. Our current set of initiatives tends to be very humanities-centric. The idea is to try to build interdisciplinary collaborations.
“We never had good space in our own buildings for supporting collaborative, sustained project work: project and task-force meetings, or collaborative design sessions. We have meeting rooms, but they’re in heavy demand. We don’t have enough of those as it is and the rooms we do have meet only the most basic technical requirements.
“We also wanted to find ways to support many projects or meetings simultaneously. A Digital Scholarship librarian could collaborate with a project team over here, or a Geospatial Data specialist could meet with their class over there, and a group of graduate students could be clustered off to one side, working on a project of their own.
“The idea is to design the technology, layout, furniture, environment - everything - to support all of these kinds of activities. We also see our new space as a test-bed, for a future redesign of Wilson Library.
Claire addresses another, important facet of Wilson Studio: “We also offer publishing services now, which will be another major tenant of this new space. We’ve only been offering services, such as assisting in the production of scholarly publications and journals, for about a year.”
Wilson Studio Construction slated to start early 2017
“Right now, we are close to finalizing the design. We are trying to fit as many potential collaborative areas into this space as we can. The west end of the space will become a collaborative space, where business librarians Mary Schoenborn and Caroline Lilyard can consult with students and faculty interested in entrepreneurship or developing business plans.” Business resources, such as the Bloomberg Terminal (a dedicated system offering real-time financial market data, news, and price quotes) will be relocated to the section of Wilson Studio devoted to these types of collaborations.
“So, if you were involved in competition you could talk to the Librarian, use the Bloomberg service, and talk to your team, all in an environment that can offer the resources you need - and a little privacy.”
The rest of Wilson Studio will be open and flexible - featuring movable chairs, displays, whiteboards and screens, that can be used to create semi-private spaces. Wilson Studio will also feature one enclosed team room with a large display.
Wilson Studio’s Project Team currently awaits an important, final proposal regarding the feasibility of a visualization wall: display technology for projection and sharing on-screen information including high-resolution viewing (like, zooming in on a dot on a map), Geospatial projects, and more.
“On Wilson Studio’s publishing end, we are currently focused on publishing journals, and we’re working within a journal platform. The design team are also mindful they are bound to see other types of publications come through the door, projects that are not so much a journal, such as an interdisciplinary website like the University of Minnesota’s, “Open Rivers: Rethinking the Mississippi.”
“We’re hoping expertise not currently resident in Wilson Library will be able to come to Wilson, as needed, for consultation and collaboration.
“We are excited this really beautiful space will also be visible from outside. Wilson Studio is being designed to maximize beauty and utility. It will be a busy, energizing hub of new, collaborative development.”
