Information commons: future of academic libraries

Background and Aim: This paper seeks to explore the concepts of the information commons (IC). The paper provides a look at the models and characteristics of the IC. A number of projects of the IC are presented. We will discuss the situation of an existing traditional library. It makes recommendations for converting an existing library space into an IC. A number of Challenges of implementation of the IC are explored Methods: This is a conceptual paper, so a library study approach was chosen. Results: Academic libraries have undergone considerable massive changes over the past decade. These changes have faced the directors of libraries with difficulties and challenges in planning of the library activities. It seems that the emergence of the IC is adaptation to the changing role of the academic libraries. The IC is a relatively new concept in the Information and Knowledge Science. The IC is described as a portal through which students and faculty will access the vast amount of information resources in the world and less a place where information is kept, as focus shifts from ownership of information to access to and management of information and smart services. There are centralized access to services and technologies, contact with the users and collaborative learning play an important role. Conclusion. No one knows what will the academic library of the future look like? Needless to say, it will be a constantly evolving information resource with knowledgeable and skilled staff that provides fast, flexible access to digital and print information resources, fosters scholarly research in a comfortable and supportive environment, and promotes cooperative learning. The IC is a first step in that direction.