University Photography

Avital Mendelson, engineering '06, right, and computer science lecturer Rajmohan Rajagopalan share a light moment during a Computer Game Design class held in the Cornell Library Collaborative Learning Computer Laboratory in Uris Library in 2004.

The Cornell Library Collaborative Learning Computer Laboratory [(CL)3] in Uris Library marked its first anniversary in August. Approximately 10,000 users have taken advantage of the lab during public hours, and seven courses use the lab for all or some of their classes.

David Schwartz, a lecturer in computer science who was one of the driving forces behind the project, is the main instructor in (CL)3. After receiving a Faculty Innovation in Teaching Grant to custom-design computer tables for collaborative computing, he worked with Cornell Information Technologies to develop a prototype and approached Cornell Library about incorporating his project in Uris Library.

He used the facility for his course Introduction to Computer Game Design because, he said, "(CL)3 has proved extremely useful for facilitating game design and development education." Examples of games designed in (CL)3 can be downloaded from http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/creationstation/projects.html.

Steve Pond, assistant professor of music, used (CL)3 for his course Music in American Culture. Projects ranged from an analysis of jazz scores in films to the musical innovations of Jimi Hendrix. To interest more music students in taking the game-design class, a variety of new music software and hardware has been added, allowing students to create and edit their own music and vocals.

Patrick Somerville, a lecturer in the English department who used the facility in his First-Year Writing Seminar, said: "All in all, the facilities were perfect. It's a comfortable room, the technology works without any problems, and it's exciting to do something so far from normal."

Informal feedback from people who have used (CL)3 during its public hours included this student request to reserve equipment: "an LCD projector and a tripod and a partridge in a pear tree. The equipment is for my class project, and the partridge in a pear tree is for my true love, (CL)3."

Tony Cosgrave is a reference and instruction librarian in collections, reference, instruction and outreach.