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Tennessee Tech University

Learning Commons Blog

Angelo & Jennette Volpe Library > Library Commons Home > Learning Commons Blog

Learning Commons Update (Thursday, August 11, 2011)

It is August 11 and the Learning Commons construction is complete. New furniture has been delivered to the Commons almost daily for the past few weeks. You can view pictures on the library's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tennessee-Tech-University-Library/144686072218424.

The library is planning an exciting event called "The Amazing Commons Race" to present the wonderful new space to Tennessee Tech students on September 6, 2011 from 6 to 9pm. Participating students will get a map to be stamped at special locations in the Commons. Students who complete their map will be eligible for door prizes, including a chance for an IPAD 2!!

More information on this event will be advertised as the event nears on the library's Facebook page and the home page of the library.

The library is working on a nice Learning Commons website that will explain all technology and services that will be offered once the Commons opens.

Learning Commons Construction Progress (Wednesday, April 13, 2011)

Things are taking shape on the main floor of the library. All of the holes for the new electrical outlets have been drilled and the floor boxes are being installed. The columns have been modified to provide even more outlets for students to use. Planning is proceeding and we are close to the point when we will order furniture and technology for the new learning commons. The new space and services that we will offer will add value to the learning and scholarship of students.

We are looking forward to the fall when we will open a new and exciting chapter in the history of Volpe Library.

Dr. Doug Bates

Dean of the Library and Learning Assistance

Update on Learning Commons Construction (Tuesday, January 11, 2011)

Construction on the learning commons began on Dec. 20, 2010. Library users may enter the library on the second floor as usual, but then must go to either the first or third floors of the library via the center stairwell or the elevator.

Most library services are still available, some may be located in new areas of the building.

The third floor now contains these services and resources:

• circulation desk

• information desk

• computers

• journals

• reference books

• indexes

• stacks (books)

• popular reading (fiction) books

• magazines

• newspapers

• study tables and carrels

The first floor contains the archives, the media center including book reserves, the microform collections and microform machines and the map collections, as well as the production studio.

Construction on the learning commons will continue through August 2011. Students and faculty visiting the library can expect some construction noise. Group study rooms will not be available in the Spring and Summer 2011 semesters but will be reopened when the learning commons opens in Fall 2011.

Pictures of the construction can be found on the Tennessee Tech University Library's Facebook page.

This article was published in Tech Times on January 11, 2011

Pictures of the Transition to Learning Commons (Friday, December 10, 2010)

The library has been taking pictures of our transition to the Learning Commons. All pictures are uploaded to the library's facebook page. We have been very fortunate to have excellent student workers to help with moving books and shelving. We also have had two volunteer groups help one evening - TTU Men's Baseball team and TTU Women's Soccer team.

Learning Commons Update Presentation ()

Randle Bell, Manager of Facilities & Business Services, and Dr. Doug Bates, Dean of Library and Learning Assistance, presented a learning commons update to the Academic Affairs Executive Council.

A copy of the presentation slides can be found here: Learning Commons Presentation Powerpoint

Library Transition Update (Monday, November 15, 2010)

You have probably noticed that there is a lot going on in the library. We are working hard to achieve our goal of having the main floor cleared by the end of the semester so that renovations can begin for the learning commons (see http://ttulearningcommons.blogspot.com/2010/08/introduction-to-learning-commons.html). We are in the process of shifting the collection on the third floor. This is necessary to make room for the periodicals from the main floor. Some of the bound periodicals are being removed because we have electronic copies of the titles and volumes. Many of the Government Documents are also being removed. We recognize that all of this activity is disruptive and not conducive to an ideal library atmosphere. We will do our best to keep this as normal as possible while we work to make the learning commons a reality.

Dr. Doug Bates

Dean of the Library and Learning Assistance

What is happening to all of the Books? (Thursday, October 7, 2010)

When books are removed from the library there are strict guidelines that we must follow. All of the books are carefully removed from the library catalog. They are then offered to all of the other Tennessee Board of Regents libraries. The other libraries are given 30 days to respond to the offer. After 30 days any books not claimed are sent to shipping and receiving at the warehouse. Once sent to the warehouse the books are handled according to State regulations. (See Tennessee Board of regents, Policy 4:02:20:00 Subject: Disposal of Surplus Personal Property , http://www.tbr.state.tn.us/policies/default.aspx?id=1140)

The relevant parts of the regulations are as follows:

2 General Rules

1. (a) Surplus personal property is either usable property, which shall be transferred or sold, or unusable property, which may be destroyed, as hereinafter provided:

1. (1) Surplus personal property which is perishable food may be destroyed without delay or notification.

2. (2) Surplus mattresses may be destroyed or may be otherwise disposed of only upon compliance with T.C.A. 12-2-403.

3. (3) Surplus personal property which is determined to be not usable by the institution and of little or no salvage or other economic value may be destroyed by an appropriate method.

4. (4) The institution shall follow the procedures described in Section 3(c) of this policy, prior to disposal of all other surplus personal property.

2. (b) Surplus personal property in which the Federal Government or other entity has a legal interest should be transferred to such entity when no longer needed.

3. (c) It is unlawful for any state official or employee, including System employees, to purchase from the state except by bid at public auction any surplus property during the tenure of his office or employment, or for six (6) months thereafter. A purchaser who violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor under T.C.A. 12-2-412.

4. (d) For all sales to individuals except at public auctions including internet auction, the transferring institution conducting the sale shall obtain from the purchaser a signed disclaimer certifying the purchaser is not a state or System employee and that the purchaser is not buying the property for or on behalf of any state or System employee.

5. (e) All employees of the Tennessee Board of Regents System and their immediate families, shall be ineligible to bid for or purchase surplus personal property except by bid at public auction.

6. (f) Possession of surplus personal property sold to the general public under any method prescribed under Section 3(c) of this policy shall not pass until payment is made by cash, or if payment is made by cashiers check or certified check, possession shall not pass until the check is honored by the drawee bank.

3 General Disposal Procedures

3 (c) No article of personal property may be disposed of as surplus except by one of the following methods: (1) Trade-in, when such is permitted due to the nature of the property or equipment and subject to the provisions of T.C.A. 12-2-403 and the rules of this policy;

i. Transfer to other institutions within the Tennessee Board of Regents system;

ii. Transfer to other state agencies;

iii. Sale to eligible political subdivisions of the state and other governmental entities;

iv. Public auction, publicly advertised and held;

v. Sale under sealed bids, publicly advertised, opened and recorded;

vi. Negotiated contract for sale, at arms length; but only in those instances in which the availability of the property is recurring or repetitive in character, such as marketable waste products;

vii. Disposition through the Department of General Services as provided in the Department Rules and Regulations.

viii. Donations to a public school or public school system.

ix. Sale by Internet auction.