Information Commons
Information Commons are spaces that respond to
the ways in which today’s students learn.
The Stritch Library features an Information Commons,
opened in August 2010. While quiet study areas are
still an important venue for studying, today’s students also seek more
open gathering spaces that allow them to work with their peers on
projects, as well as complete their individual studies.
Classes across all disciplines are increasingly
featuring integrated technologies in course assignments, so both
students and faculty need access to spaces and technology that allow
them to complete that work. Stritch's Information Commons was designed
to provide experimental and flexible spaces that integrate students'
desire for service, social interaction, study, and access to technology.
Other features of the library include: easily accessible reference
librarians, public computers and printers, group study rooms, individual
study areas, and laptop computers for check out.
The Library houses more than 109,000 books and over 700 periodical
subscriptions. In addition, TOPCAT has nearly 900,000 items (including
non-book items) cataloged. TOPCAT is the shared online library catalog
of the SWITCH consortium, which is a consortium of eight college and
research libraries in the Milwaukee area. Students can access the
library’s online catalog from anywhere in the world via the Internet.