The Nancy Thompson Learning Commons (NTLC) serves as the intellectual and cultural center of Kean University and is dedicated to promoting lifelong learning. The Learning Commons offers student support services designed to meet the academic and research needs of the Kean Community. Through various workshops, placements, and events, the NTLC provides an integrated support system that directly assists students and faculty with completing academic research-creative-and-scholarly activities and their continuous professional development.
The Learning Commons provides a comprehensive and overarching academic learning environment through continuous collaboration with the faculty. The faculty is an innovative and creative partner and provides primary and secondary information resources needed for students to become critical, creative, and global learners engaged in their learning. NTLC partners with the faculty and administration to foster student development of information literacy skills and provides the necessary services to support the basic needs of faculty conducting research with students. Students, faculty, and staff can access computer stations and print machines on all three floors. Through the Learning Support Services, NTLC provides Kean students tutoring, writing, and public speaking services. These programs are in tandem with the disciplinary and degree programs of Kean University and follow General Education requirements.
Located in the heart of the Kean campus, the Learning Commons, its website, and online catalog house the Library's print and online collections, with holdings of more than 178,109 volumes of books and access to more than 741,466 e-books. In addition, the Library subscribes to more than 68,312 electronic periodicals and provides access to more than 285,743 U.S. government online documents. We also have access to 250+ databases to support the Kean Community. A current validated Kean University photo ID is required to borrow materials from the Library. A Kean Google email account is required to access resources from off-campus. The Library can also request additional books and articles through the Interlibrary Loan system. Students may access the print book collections of other New Jersey academic libraries using the VALE Reciprocal Borrowing Program.
The Learning Commons is home to the Holocaust Resource Center, which adjoins the Human Rights Institute and is located near the Miron Student Center Plaza on Cougar Walk. Students may visit the Library or use the Reference and other services provided online, by phone, or by appointment.
The Nancy Thompson Learning Commons is committed to providing a broad range of resources and services that reflect the diverse interests, experiences, and learning needs of the Kean community. We strive to build collections and offer programming that represents a wide array of perspectives, ensuring our materials and services support the academic and personal growth of all students, faculty, and staff. Our approach to resource selection prioritizes a variety of formats and subjects to meet the evolving needs of our users.
Our Learning Support Services are open to the entire Kean community, offering tutoring, workshops, and mentoring that focus on fostering student success through accessible and welcoming academic support. We are committed to continually improving our services to ensure they are responsive to the needs of our community.
Commitments:
Our collection spans several centuries, and some materials reflect outdated ideas and language that do not align with the current values and standards of Kean University. We are reviewing our holdings to provide transparency around materials that may present biased or harmful perspectives. This review process is intended to ensure that historical materials are appropriately contextualized to support teaching and learning while also identifying items that may no longer serve an academic purpose. We welcome questions and feedback about this ongoing process at learningcommons@kean.edu.
