Information Fluency Task Force Report: Collaboration

2001

Group members:
Hugh Blackmer Science Librarian, Washington and Lee University-Moderator
Bob Shive Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Millsaps College-Moderator
Mary Fairbairn Instructional Services/Reference Librarian, Furman University
Carol Fonken Head, Circulation Services, Southwestern University
Charlotte Ford Reference Librarian, Birmingham-Southern College
Tom Henderson Assoc. Librarian for Public Services, Millsaps College
Bob Johnson Dean of Information Services and CIO, Rhodes College
Tom Lairson Professor of Politics, Rollins College
Art Moore Director of Computer Services and Assoc. Prof. of Math., Centre College
John Sandstrum Head of Technical Services, Millsaps College
Wenxian Zhang Head of Public Services, Rollins College

Report submitted by: Bob Johnson, Dean of Information Services and Chief Information Officer, Rhodes College

A. Cultural/Structural Concerns

1. Hierarchical Cultures

a. Administrators

rigidly structured, directive, specialized

b. Libraries

semi-rigidly structured, highly organized, specialized, able to respond innovatively because of "wiggle room"

c. Media

shallow hierarchies, fluid skills and operations

d. University Computing Centers

loose coupling
fluid skills and operations
fire fighting mode

2. Autonomous Cultures

a. Professorial/ Academic models

inconsistently collaborative
solitary scholarship
not necessarily team-oriented
influenced by disciplinary cultures...various effects...problems in designing collaboration relevant to...

b. Student models

collaboration can be perilous, even unnatural given honor code culture

B. Territoriality - Turf Concerns

C. Interest Concerns

low level interest
apathy
resistance

D. Programmatic Concerns

e.g. programing for students,taking library orientation to information fluency
dealing with faculty resistance through a 'pressure wave' of change
STARS - can Dave Brown's ideas be replicated?
To what extent did his own context and persona contribute to WFU's success?

E. Infrastructural Concerns

WHAT CAN THE CONSORTIUM DO TO ASSIST MEMBER INSTITUTIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COLLABORATION WITH REGARD TO INFORMATION FLUENCY?

Proposal

A. The Aim of the Proposal

For the ACS to assist with the marketing of this type of collaboration

1) to administrators

to provide training, release time, and appropriate resources for I.F. collaboration

2) to faculty members

to embrace I.F. collaboration as a legitimate scholarly activity

B. The Plan

A consortially funded program for developing a program of activities (eg. 'kit', 'roadmap' or 'gallery of success') at a single institution or selection of institutions

The responsibility rests on these recipient institutions to mentor their own employees as well as those in other member institutions (some similarities to the current Mellon Grant proposal)

C. The Conditions

ACS is to develop a procedure for obligating recipients of these grants to perform these consultations

ACS grants should include air fare

Results of the grant-funded activity should be available on line in an archive of collaboration programs

Video conferencing should be available for additional mentorship, consulting opportunities

We recommend that in a set, definite period of time, ACS schedule a symposium to present and explain collaboration projects for member institutions

We recommend 'STARS' (WFU) as a model

We also recommend that a preference be placed on granting funds to institutions developing STARS models of collaboration

We recommend further that development of summer internships for training students in these programs and encourage symposium attendees to bring students with them to symposiums