Peer Education in the Commons: A New Approach to Reference Services

Abstract

In planning for a new library construction project for the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, graduate students enrolled in the University of Oklahoma (OU) School of Library and Information Studies collaborated in an innovative effort to develop a commons-based reference service. By first considering a philosophical approach to the need for a commons, blending in the experiences of other libraries that have created similar spaces, and focusing on the workflow issues likely to be encountered by the graduate assistants staffing the commons itself, this planning team developed an uncommon peer-to-peer approach to reference and education services, one focused on the patron as student.

KEYWORDS:

• Graduate assistants
• information commons
• library service planning
• library space planning

Notes

Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Stewart Brower ([email protected]) and Linda Hasman ([email protected]).