Five years ago, UWM turned a common space into an uncommon gathering place for students.
The Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons, opened in 2009, transformed 32,500 square feet on the west side of the Golda Meir Library into an open, communal learning space. A coffee shop, comfortable, flexible furniture groupings, the addition of many more computers and study areas that encourage collaboration were all part of the transformation.
The $5 million-plus project – underwritten by the state and by private funding from the Daniel M. Soref Charitable Trust, board members of the Friends of the Golda Meir Library, and others – has been a success from the day it opened, according to library administrators: student use increased markedly, by nearly 27 percent, and the library has become the destination point for the entire campus.
The Main Desk integrates Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, and research and technology help. Regular information literacy classes help student learn how to use the resources available.
Architects and librarians from around the country have visited the visually striking Learning Commons to study ways they can reshape their own libraries.
“The Daniel M. Soref Learning Commons has greatly contributed to campus efforts to improve student success and has made the library a destination point at UWM,” says UWM Libraries Director Ewa Barczyk.
These photos by Kenny Yoo show some of the ways students are using the Learning Commons today.
