Brian Mathews’ Vision of a Post-Library Commons World

creative, original
adoptable, replicable
promises impact, influence
inspires, motivates change
paradigm shifting, game changing

Why is it innovative?
Would allow for the removal of computers et al from learning spaces, morphing the structured hardwired learning commons model into a series of learning neighborhoods.

More info:

From Brian Mathews’ visionary blog: The Ubiquitous Librarian:

Let’s leave the layering concept aside for right now. But IF, and I admit that’s a pretty big if, we could move to a purely cloud model with light-projected mobile interfaces— that changes everything. We won’t need a room filled with 100 or 500 desktop computers. We won’t need to worry about networking or security or maintenance or updates or upgrades.  (Ok, maybe a little.) The point is, we get away from the structured hardwired learning commons model and move into a series of neighborhoods. Bill Mayer hit on this with his vision of libraries as “a series of living rooms and kitchens.” Different spaces designed for different purposes.

From The Chronicle of Higher Education (If Libraries Remove Computers, Will Anyone Come?, April 29, 2010):

The trend in the last few years was to add more computers to the library, creating spaces often called "information commons." And during that time, visits to the library have increased greatly. "I think the key to our current success has been the computers," Mr. Mathews says on his blog.

But now Mr. Mathews says he hears colleagues planning to remove desktops and trying programs to loan out iPads or netbooks to students who want to use a computer while in the library. "So the real question is: What happens when they don't need computers anymore?"