It has finally reached the 10th seminar. We will hold the 10th University Education Seminar, “Reconsidering the Restructuring of University Libraries as ‘Learning Spaces’—An Interim Report on the Three-University Collaboration Project for Promoting Learning Support,” on Saturday, December 8, starting at 13:00. As stated in the 2010 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) report, “On the Development of University Libraries (Summary of Deliberations),” there is a desire to restructure university libraries as “learning spaces.” Over the past few years, spaces centered on learning commons have been created within university libraries, where users can actively engage in learning, such as through discussions, by utilizing library resources. However, there are many issues that need to be considered to transform them into “learning spaces.” I believe this is not just a problem for library staff, but something that faculty members, as well as top-level administrators like university presidents and vice-presidents, must seriously consider.

Starting this fiscal year, Kanazawa University has launched a “Three-University Collaboration Project for Promoting Learning Support” in partnership with the libraries of Nagoya University and Shizuoka University. The goal is for university libraries to think about and implement learning support not just as a single institution, but through collaboration between universities. Since we have just started, we are holding this seminar as an interim report. For the keynote speech, we have invited Ms. Makoto Inoue, Administrative Director of the Center for Learning Support and Faculty Development at Doshisha University. I expect she will talk about class practices centered on learning commons that she has been involved in and implemented, the learning support skills required of university librarians that emerge from those practices, and the new learning commons being developed at Doshisha University. As the coordinator, I am very much looking forward to it.

I would also like faculty members to think about the relationship between education and university libraries as “learning spaces,” which is currently in demand. I look forward to the participation of many people. There is a link to the application form below, so please click it to register. Please note that we do not accept requests for materials only.

Thank you very much.

————————————————————–

The 10th University Education Seminar
“Reconsidering the Restructuring of University Libraries as ‘Learning Spaces’—An Interim Report on the Three-University Collaboration Project for Promoting Learning Support”

Date and Time: Saturday, December 8, 2012, 13:00–17:30
Venue: Kanazawa University Satellite Plaza, 3rd Floor Meeting Room
Organizer: Kanazawa University, Center for the Advancement of Higher Education
Co-organizer: Kanazawa University Library
Support: Nagoya University Library, Shizuoka University Library, University Consortium Ishikawa (tentative)

Overview
In recent years, university libraries have undergone significant changes. They are shifting from their traditional roles of preserving and providing research materials and literature, and fostering information literacy centered on information retrieval techniques, to actively engaging in student learning as places for learning support. As a place for learning support, university libraries have recently been attracting attention for building learning environments called learning commons. However, discussions are currently underway regarding what content should be provided and how learning support should be conducted. To answer these questions, it is necessary to review and examine the concept of learning. In this seminar, we have invited Ms. Makoto Inoue, Administrative Director of the Center for Learning Support and Faculty Development at Doshisha University, to give a lecture on the skills required for library staff regarding learning support, her own practices, and the image of university libraries that contribute to education. In addition, we will provide an interim report on the learning support collaboration project between the three university libraries of Kanazawa University, Nagoya University, and Shizuoka University, which was concluded in June, and engage in active discussion on the learning support that university libraries should aim for.

Schedule
13:00 Opening Remarks
13:10 Explanation of the Seminar Purpose: Masanori Yamada (Associate Professor, Center for the Advancement of Higher Education, Kanazawa University)
13:15 Keynote Speech
Ms. Makoto Inoue (Administrative Director, Center for Learning Support and Faculty Development, Doshisha University)
“What is the ‘Learning Support Ability’ that University Librarians Should Possess?
—Focusing on Information Literacy Education—”

14:00 Break

14:15 Report (approx. 30 minutes each)
—Nagoya University: Mr. Kosuke Okabe (Manager of Information Services Division, Nagoya University Library; Visiting Researcher at this Center)
“Information Literacy as a Learning Skill —What the ILI-L Development Project Aims For—”
—Shizuoka University: Mr. Kenji Kato (Director of Shizuoka University Library; Professor, Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science)
“Learning Support at the University of Warwick, UK, and the Current Situation at Shizuoka University”
—Kanazawa University: Shun Morimoto (Specialist, Information Services Division, Kanazawa University Library)
“Learning Support at Kanazawa University Library: Focusing on Learning Commons”

15:45 Break
16:00 Q&A and Panel Discussion
17:25 Closing Remarks

If you would like to participate, please apply via the form here.

We look forward to your participation!!

Contact
Associate Professor, Center for the Advancement of Higher Education, Kanazawa University
Masanori Yamada: mark [atmark] mark-lab.net