NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       DATE: 1/24/06
CONTACT: LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATIONS ASST., (413) 545-0162

UMass Amherst Libraries Host a Colloquium

‘Celebrating the Learning Commons’

Amherst, MA – The UMass Amherst Libraries host a Colloquium ‘Celebrating the Learning Commons’ on Thursday, January 26, 2006 on the Main Floor of the Du Bois Library, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  The Keynote speaker, Joan Lippincott, is the Associate Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information.  Ms. Lippincott helped generate excitement about building the Learning Commons in April of 2004 and now returns to give a presentation “Accessing Learning Spaces.”  Learning Commons Service providers will also give brief updates on the first semester’s operations.  This colloquium is open to all interested faculty, librarians, and staff.  Refreshments will be served. 

The Coalition for Networked Information is a joint project of EDUCAUSE and the Association of Research Libraries. Ms. Lippincott has worked on issues related to collaboration among information professionals since 1990. She has a Ph.D. in higher education from University of Maryland and has written on a variety of topics including collaboration, services in the networked environment, collaborative facilities, digital libraries, and assessment.

This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Information Technology and the UMass Amherst Libraries.  For further information, contact Anne C. Moore, 545-0148 or annem@library.umass.edu.