Description
In previous papers delivered at IATUL Conferences, I described the TriUniversity Group (TUG) library collaboration. I spoke of the advantages and reported that three academic libraries, large (University of Waterloo) medium (University of Guelph) and small (Wilfrid Laurier University) were working together creatively to address a number of issues: • Remote storage of little used library materials, • Development of a web-based, unified and integrated online “catalogue”, • Joint purchases of online resources, and • Rationalization of information resources This pioneering collaborative undertaking, initiated in 1995, is now widely emulated, with some success. The TUG librarians found that collaboration is difficult. In collaborative efforts of this size, we need to ensure that we pay attention to the development of the organization. We realized that we needed to bring to the forefront the effect on the cultural environment. We had to examine the collaborative mission in the light of individual and institutional values. What is behind the differences in rules and regulations, for example? We recognized that before we collaborate successful we needed to encourage library staff to examine the organizational changes that collaboration was causing. As the Chief Librarian at the University of Guelph observed, “The most important factor in successful collaborations is human relationships. The biggest investment will not be in hardware or in software, but in people”. Librarians practically invented collaboration between universities. We have learned to work cooperatively in order to best serve the needs of our user communities. This keynote paper will remove library collaboration from specific institutions in an attempt to identify the factors that might predict the success of library collaboration and analyze the reasons some collaborative efforts are successful. What elements need to be present to make a collaborative library project work?
Included in
Library collaboration: what makes it work? (Keynote paper)
In previous papers delivered at IATUL Conferences, I described the TriUniversity Group (TUG) library collaboration. I spoke of the advantages and reported that three academic libraries, large (University of Waterloo) medium (University of Guelph) and small (Wilfrid Laurier University) were working together creatively to address a number of issues: • Remote storage of little used library materials, • Development of a web-based, unified and integrated online “catalogue”, • Joint purchases of online resources, and • Rationalization of information resources This pioneering collaborative undertaking, initiated in 1995, is now widely emulated, with some success. The TUG librarians found that collaboration is difficult. In collaborative efforts of this size, we need to ensure that we pay attention to the development of the organization. We realized that we needed to bring to the forefront the effect on the cultural environment. We had to examine the collaborative mission in the light of individual and institutional values. What is behind the differences in rules and regulations, for example? We recognized that before we collaborate successful we needed to encourage library staff to examine the organizational changes that collaboration was causing. As the Chief Librarian at the University of Guelph observed, “The most important factor in successful collaborations is human relationships. The biggest investment will not be in hardware or in software, but in people”. Librarians practically invented collaboration between universities. We have learned to work cooperatively in order to best serve the needs of our user communities. This keynote paper will remove library collaboration from specific institutions in an attempt to identify the factors that might predict the success of library collaboration and analyze the reasons some collaborative efforts are successful. What elements need to be present to make a collaborative library project work?