This looks pretty good. One small "nit pick": > Workers can become members with a dedicated desk, or pay a drop-in rate and > use whatever space is available.
I would advise against conflating membership with dedicated desks. Membership takes on many forms, and drop-in usage tends to be a "gateway" to membership in addition to being a part of the flexible usage model. I think that theres also room for a mention of the larger connection/movement/community across coworking spaces - the very existence of this "meta community" - as a valuable component to Coworking spaces & hacker spaces. -Alex -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 7:55 PM, Christine Prefontaine wrote: > Oh here's the talk that Chris Coward did on innovation spaces at TASCHA: > http://tascha.uw.edu/2012/04/coward/ > > On Thursday, August 9, 2012 7:53:55 PM UTC-4, Christine Prefontaine wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > I am writing a brief on innovation spaces > > (http://facilitatingchange.org/2011/11/innovation-grounds/) for the Beyond > > Access: Libraries Powering Development (http://www.beyondaccess.net/) > > initiative. This also builds on exploration into this topic at the > > Technology & Social Change group, at the University of Washington > > Information School. > > > > So I wanted to share with you my draft description of coworking. It's > > below. I'm using an "open-notebook" approach to write the brief. You can > > see and comment on it > > (https://docs.google.com/a/facilitatingchange.org/document/d/1nedkdrvD3zP8g5eiFSVdAWYJHKOkFxZ86jXTIA7r8as/edit#) > > in all its messiness :) There are also descriptions of hackerspaces, > > fablabs, and telecentres. > > > > I'm really pleased about this because I was able to use the experiences of > > being a member and volunteer for Station C in Montreal and mix them with my > > international development work. Here's to more coworking spaces around the > > world -- and more embedded into development initiatives and public > > libraries! > > > > Cheers, > > > > Christine > > > > ---- > > Coworking — A coworking is a space where independent professionals (“free > > agents”), entrepreneurs, and employees with locational flexibility can > > work, connect, and host meetings and events. Coworking can also be an > > informal event — a “jelly” — that temporarily gathers a group of workers in > > a public space, private home, or business. Typical coworking spaces have an > > open-concept interior layout, with tables, desks, meeting rooms, and > > eating/lounging areas. WiFi is always included and most provide basic > > office equipment. Workers can become members with a dedicated desk, or pay > > a drop-in rate and use whatever space is available. Coworking emerged in > > response to the emotional and professional needs of independent knowledge > > workers, in particular the need — the need for social interaction, ad-hoc > > feedback and support, and work/meeting spaces that are flexible, > > affordable, and project a professional image. Benefits include increased > > productivity, work quality, and opportunities. Coworking spaces are > > distinguished by their members’ commitment to a core set of values > > (collaboration, openness, and diversity, among others), an innovative and > > creative spirit, and activities that foster community, serendipity, and > > civic engagement. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/d6vK4pNMzKUJ. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
