Hi Scott,
I hope your funding does not dry up before you get your writing centre
established! Based on my experience at Laurier Writing Centre, which you
have seen, I would suggest that you ask for as much space as possible to
allow for growth and that you divide the space up between "public" space and
"consultation space/offices" so that you get a quiet work environment for
you and your tutors away from the busy area at the front desk (that is if
you will have a front desk) and the resource area. If you are going to have
drop-in hours as well as regular appointments, you may also want to think
about how the centre can accommodate students who line up to see a tutor and
who may want to work while they wait.
Details that I would like and that you might want to consider are:
desks that are either round or with a rounded end so that you can
move over to sit side by side with students when you discuss their paper
windows, computers, and important reference books in all offices
office doors with windows so that you can close the door and work in
peace but still remain visible when you are working with a student - and
well insulated walls
a common resource area so that staff can share the centre's
collection of books, journals etc.
a classroom for writing workshops and staff meetings
I am not sure what the best location is for a writing centre in the library
space. We are located right next to the café which is fine. It gives us
visibility and people discover we are there when they walk by. We have a
sandwich board out in the hallway which helps a great deal on our
visibility.
There is probably more, but this is what I could think of for now.
Cheers,
Emmy
Emmy Misser, MA
Manager: Writing Centre
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L 3C5
(519) 884-0710, ext. 3339
-----Original Message-----
From: CASLL/Inkshed [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott Pound
Sent: November 25, 2008 11:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Space of the Writing Centre
Hello List Members,
I'm conducting research for a proposed writing centre at Lakehead University
and am eager to hear from writing centre professionals who have info/ideas
about the optimal spatial layout for writing centres. It's a topic that
doesn't come up a lot in the literature.
The writing centre at Lakehead will be located on the first floor of the
main library, possibly (probably) within a Learning Commons (that option is
currently being studied). Enrolment at Lakehead is close to 7000.
I'll be considering everything from optimal square footage, floorplan, room
shape, types and shape of tables, relationship to larger spaces (such as a
learning commons), and anything else that seems relevant.
Scholarly leads on the topic are most welcome too.
Many thanks in advance.
Scott
--
Scott Pound
Associate Professor
Department of English
Lakehead University
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1
807-343-8298
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