Dinsdale Family Learning Commons: A Hub for Collaboration and Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has redefined its library experience with the renovation and redevelopment of the former C.Y. Thompson Library into the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons. This transformation marks a shift from a traditional library setting to an interactive student gathering place, designed to be a beacon for campus activity. Completed in time for the spring semester, the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons embodies a vision of a technology-rich, collaborative environment that fosters innovation, research, and learning.
A Generous Investment in Student Learning
The $22.5 million project was made possible through the generosity of private donors who share a desire to invest in the student learning experience. Leadership support for this privately funded project came from UNL alumni and philanthropists Ruth and Bill Scott of Omaha. Responding to the Scotts’ lead challenge gift, the Dinsdale family of Nebraska made a major gift commitment to the project. The gift was made by Sid Dinsdale, Chris Dinsdale and Jane Dinsdale Rogers in honor of their father, Roy G. Dinsdale; and by Lynn Dinsdale Marchese and Tom Dinsdale in honor of their father, the late John “Jack” A. Dinsdale.
UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “Students are at the core of what we do, so we are especially grateful for the generosity of Ruth and Bill Scott and the Dinsdale family for recognizing and embracing the vision of a new student learning commons on our East Campus.”
A Vision for a Modern Learning Space
Ruth Scott articulated the hope that the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons "will be a place where students want to congregate to spend time together and that it will be a hub that encourages students, teachers and the broader community to explore, create, collaborate and have some fun.”
Sid Dinsdale echoed this sentiment, noting, “With our family roots in agriculture, we think providing resources to upgrade the East Campus makes sense. Few updates have been made to the C.Y. Thompson Library since it opened in 1966, but the way students study and learn has changed significantly."
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The renovated Dinsdale Family Learning Commons reflects the evolving needs of students, acknowledging their increasing use of online and digital information and research. It enhances interdisciplinary connections by providing spaces where students can gather to study and collaborate. While embracing digital resources, the printed word is not forgotten. A "power library" houses a 25,000-volume collection of the most recent, unique, and active parts of the print collection. The library division within the facility continues to be named the C.Y. Thompson Library.
Key Features and Design Elements
The redesign of the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons prioritizes flexibility and adaptability. The interior spaces are connected and energized by centralized, multi-story student activity spaces, organizing around highly flexible and easily reconfigurable ‘nodes’ that can accommodate small and large groups.
Several features contribute to the dynamic and engaging atmosphere of the Learning Commons:
- Flexible Spaces: The learning commons incorporates an "ask-us" zone, a café, a presentation room, a gallery, and outdoor learning spaces. These interstitial areas naturally create energy and movement throughout the building.
- Natural Light: One of the first striking changes visitors notice is the abundance of natural light that floods through windows that run from roofline to ground level.
- Kimmel Foundation Room: The spacious, glass-walled Kimmel Foundation Room, a focal point of the first floor, can be reserved by the campus community for educational opportunities.
- Living Room Area: The living room area on the first floor is filled with comfortable conversational areas and looks out on Legacy Plaza, an East Campus green space. The carpet in this area is dark gray, with light gray swirls and aqua accents, creating a distinct topographical feel. The elliptical lights resemble crop circles, and the tables are pond-shaped, contributing to the organic feel of the space.
- East Overlook: The East Overlook offers a quiet, individual space to study, with a view of the Arboretum. The interior design is neutral to complement the surrounding green space. The space accounts for how people congregate and learn, utilizing smaller groupings of furniture that provide intimacy and allow solitude. Height-adjustable tables are available for accessibility.
- Lower Level: The lower level, where the library’s book stacks reside, is designed for study-intensive work. Since there are no windows in the space, brighter colors, such as pops of red, are used. The area features study pods for individual work, which look like little capsules with a light, a desk, and a foot rest. There are also larger, organically-shaped tables to accommodate groups of students or study groups.
A Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Beyond its role as a learning space, the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons also houses the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneur Center and The Rural Futures Institute.
- Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneur Center: This incubator studio provides resources and collaboration space for students to test new and innovative ideas for start-up businesses. The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program occupies two-thirds of the second floor, with five classrooms, a makerspace and other facilities.
- The Rural Futures Institute: This institute mobilizes the diverse resources of the University of Nebraska and its partners to support rural communities and regions.
Honoring a Legacy of Support
The Dinsdale Family Learning Commons stands as a testament to the transformative power of philanthropy and the enduring legacy of the Dinsdale family. Brothers John A. “Jack” and Roy G. Dinsdale were business partners for 63 years with primary interests in banking and agriculture. Their commitment to education and community is reflected in the Learning Commons' mission to foster collaboration, innovation, and student success.
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Jack Dinsdale attended the University of Nebraska for business administration when his college career was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army and married Gretchen Poggemeyer, raising two children, Tom and Lynn, in Nebraska. Roy Dinsdale graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1948 with a degree in business administration and married Gloria Stephens, who graduated in 1949 with a degree in education. In 1948, Roy and Jack Dinsdale joined their father, George Dinsdale, and their uncle, Tom Dinsdale, in helping lead the family’s businesses, which were founded in the late 1800s. Roy and Jack started expanding their banking business from State Bank in Palmer by purchasing the National Bank of Neligh in 1958.
The Dinsdale Family Learning Commons represents a significant investment in the future of UNL students, providing them with a dynamic and engaging environment to learn, collaborate, and innovate. As Claire Stewart, dean of libraries, noted, “We are grateful to the Scotts, the Dinsdale family and all of the generous donors for making this investment in Nebraska students.”
Adapting to the Present
The building’s study spaces will follow current COVID-19 guidelines for safe social distancing. The book collection, currently in storage, will be moved into the lower level of Dinsdale in summer 2021.
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