Last spring, Dr. Wayne Johnson approached Hardin Library staff about the possibility of using library space for the small-group component of the human physiology course he teaches at the College of Dentistry. Because the classrooms in the East and West Commons were already heavily booked, we began looking at other space. The East Commons on the 2^nd floor had been recently refurbished to include cabana-like group studies and restaurant-style booths, each seating about 6 people.  Dr. Johnson saw the possibility of using this space for this class, which consists of 4 small groups meeting simultaneously. All that was needed was screen-sharing technology and more white boards, and the Learning Lounge was created.

The Learning Lounge is straight ahead when you enter the East Commons, and consists of the two group studies and the two booths in front of the studies. Each study or booth has a 55” monitor equipped with Mersive Solstice software that allows users to wirelessly share the screens of their laptops or mobile devices by connecting using either a browser or the free Solstice app.  Directions for connecting are shown on the monitors.  White boards are also available in the Learning Lounge.

The Learning Lounge can be reserved at through the Classroom Reservation Form at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/classroom/. The two group studies can also be reserved independently through the Group Study Reservation form at http://uiowa.libcal.com/booking/hardin-groupstudy, where they are listed as East Commons-1 and East Commons-2.  (Reserving the Learning Lounge automatically reserves the group studies.)

Want more information?  Contact Janna Lawrence, Hardin Deputy Director, at 319-335-9870 or janna-lawrence@uiowa.edu, or Matt Regan, Clinical Education Librarian, at 319-384-1407 or matthew-regan@uiowa.edu