Libraries Rebound: Embracing Mission, Maximizing Impact
Exclusively for OCLC Research Library Partners
5–6 June 2012
Hyatt at The Bellevue
Philadelphia, PA USA
#LibRebound
In order to ensure effective impact, proactive research libraries are beginning to:
- redirect staff and reconfigure services to provide direct support for the research mission of their parent institution,
- seek to align special collections with the mission of the parent institution, going beyond tradition and prestige, and
- recognize library space and its uses as a powerful way to project value and enter into new partnerships.
—All three involve forging new alliances, creating community, and releasing new value from our assets.
Based on input from OCLC Research Library Partners, this colloquium focused on the implementation of distinctive services that better align the library with the mission of its parent institution. It addressed the following themes:
- Theme 1: Directly Supporting Researchers
- Theme 2: Aligning Special Collections with the Institutional Mission
- Theme 3: Exploiting Space as a Distinctive Asset
It featured OCLC Research Library Partners and other distinguished individuals who have demonstrated leadership in these areas. The presentations offered guidance on assessing appropriateness, dealing with staffing practicalities, launching a program, and sustaining a successful program. Participants had adequate time to discuss the difficulties and opportunities associated with each of these change areas.
We met for a full day on 5 June and adjourned at noon on 6 June. The colloquium was followed by an OCLC Research Library Partnership Briefing from noon–2:30 on 6 June. We also put together a list of Things to Do in Philadelphia [pdf] for a variety of activities Partners could partake in after the Libraries Rebound meeting and reception.
Links to the presentation videos and slides are available on the agenda below. All of the videos are also available in a Libraries Rebound Video Playlist on YouTube.
In addition, the following Hangingtogether blog posts summarize various aspects of the meeting:
- Merrilee Proffitt's Libraries Rebound: Rethinking Services, Collections, Space
- Ricky Erway's Ingredients of a Successful Event
- Merrilee Proffitt's Libraries Rebound: Directly Supporting Researchers
- Merrilee Proffitt's Libraries Rebound: Special Collections and the Institutional Mission
- Merrilee Proffitt's Libraries Rebound: Space as a Distinctive Asset
- Jim Michalko's Libraries ReboundA Personal Partial Recap
Contact Ricky Erway or Merrilee Proffitt with questions or feedback about the meeting.
Tuesday, 5 June
| Time | Meeting |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast Location: Promenade – Rose Garden |
| 9:30 a.m. | Opening Remarks, by Jim Michalko, OCLC Research Opening Keynote—Making the Service Turn: Identifying, Supporting, and Sustaining Distinctive Services for the 21st Century Research Library, by Scott Walter, DePaul University Location: Rose Garden |
| 10:30 a.m. | Session 1: Directly Supporting Researchers A Subject-Specific Research Information Liaison possesses information management skills and subject expertise, and works directly with researchers on their information needs as they plan, carry out, and disseminate their research. In this session we explored deploying research liaisons who are committed to working with researchers in a particular discipline throughout the research workflow. Opening Remarks, by Ricky Erway, OCLC Research
|
| 1:00 p.m. | Lunch Location: Conservatory |
| 2:00 p.m. | Session 2: Aligning Special Collections with the Institutional Mission With an emphasis on engaging directly with the mission of their parent institution, custodians of rare and unique materials are being challenged in many ways. In this session we explored how special collections are coping with the challenges and how they are initiating a broad range of activities on campus and beyond to sustain and redirect the future of their collections. Speakers included:
Location: Rose Garden |
| 5:30–7:00 p.m. | Evening Reception Location: Chemical Heritage Foundation |
Wednesday, 6 June
| Time | Meeting |
|---|---|
8:00 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast Location: Promenade – Rose Garden |
9:00 a.m. |
Session 3: Exploiting Space as a Distinctive Asset Libraries have moved beyond thinking that "coffee and comfort" represent the optimal reconfiguration of library space. In this session we went beyond moving furniture and explored opportunities to develop space in ways that support partnerships with other campus units, transforming perceptions of the library and making direct connections to the teaching or research goals of the university. Opening Remarks, by Jim Michalko, OCLC Research
|
| 11:30 a.m. | Summing Up—Jim Michalko, OCLC Research Location: Rose Garden |
| 12:00–2:30 p.m. | (Optional) OCLC Research Library Partnership Briefing |