The Information Commons (also known as the IC) is a library and computing building in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, and is part of the

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

. The architects were the Edinburgh-based

RMJM RMJM (Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall) is one of the largest architecture and design networks in the world. Services include architecture, development management, engineering, interior design, landscape design, lead consultancy, master planning, ...

. The IC is located on Leavygreave Road, close to the University

tram stop A tram stop, tram station, streetcar stop, or light rail station is a place designated for a tram, streetcar, or light rail vehicle to stop so passengers can board or alight it. Generally, tram stops share most characteristics of bus stops, bu ...

. It opened on 10 April 2007 to staff and students of the University, although it was officially opened on 26 September 2007 by Harsh Srivastav, a graduate of the University and former President of the

Students Union A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, ...

. The project was conceived and is jointly operated by the University Library and the Corporate Information and Computing Services (CiCS). Soon after opening, satirical British magazine, ''Private Eye'' questioned the appropriateness of the building's name as a "commons", pointing out that ordinary residents of Sheffield, temporary staff and visiting researchers from other universities are forbidden access. The IC has over 1,300 study spaces, 500 computers, and carries 100,000 texts.Visitors - Information Commons - The University of Sheffield
/ref> There is an information desk and a café on the ground floor, toilets and water fountains on all levels and shower facilities on the first level. The building is open to University of Sheffield staff and students 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. On Thursday 2 February 2017, the IC hosted the University of Sheffield #1lib1ref event. As of 2016, the Information Commons hosts the University's Digital Commons, a collaborative space to develop innovations in Digital Learning. The Information Commons was temporary closed during the summer vacation of 2017 due to the interior refurbishment. The IC was reopened in September 2017 with alterations to interior design and layout.Forge Today http://forgetoday.com/2017/10/06/the-information-commons-refurbishment-reviewed/

References

External links

University of Sheffield guide to buildingInformation Commons blog
{{university of Sheffield Sheffield University buildings and structures