By: Lara Harrison
The discussion in February focused on partnerships between libraries and other institutions or organizations, including other types of libraries. The discussion began by asking if any had worked with cooperative programs or campaigns, beyond the usual interlibrary loan programs, and if so, what sort of programs. Had anyone worked with other sorts of libraries, and in what sort of efforts? What challenges were faced?
NMRT members shared a number of different cooperative projects which they participated in. School and public libraries have cooperated regularly. One example was a joint effort to create a Battle of the Books program in the elementary schools in the district. Many mentioned simply making efforts to coordinate support of each other’s resources. Listing AR and Lexile numbers in the public library’s collection records is one such simple way to support a nearby school system. Conversely, school staff may direct students to the public library for additional reference materials or other resources. Many academic and public libraries have collaborated on programs and displays. Some public librarians hosted guest speakers from a university at an event at the public library. Cooperation between academic libraries themselves is not limited to interlibrary loans, but has also included larger research and preservation projects. Universities may even have liaison positions on their library staff to facilitate communication with other departments and other organizations.
The largest challenges to collaborative programs center on communication. Participating librarians might be shy about working outside of their comfort zones, and will need to work to establish relationships with their new colleagues. Even partners who have worked with each other before must be sure to communicate clearly. Project details need to be carefully discussed. Some participants might take certain points for granted, while their partners might not have considered. What one library considers normal budgeting needs or standard marketing techniques, for example, might be very different for another library or institution.
Overall, the view towards cooperative projects was very positive. Those who have had the opportunity to participate in these sorts of collaborative events recommended them to others. Collaborations allow costs to be spread across multiple institutions or departments. In times of tighter budgets, it is a great help to share resources. All participants benefit, whether sharing simple copy fees or larger archiving program costs. Libraries are able to work on larger projects this way and reach both new and larger audiences, interacting with patrons they might not otherwise meet.
An easy way to start working with another library is to reach out to colleagues from past projects. By starting with people one already knows, there is a shorter learning curve before being able to start focusing on the “meat” of the project. It is also highly recommended that librarians share what they have learned with other professionals. Sharing successful collaborations at conferences, in poster sessions, through webinars, or in peer-reviewed publications like Collaborative Librarianship is a great way to give back to the profession and maybe inspire someone else to try something new at their own library.