Information Handling in Collaborative Research

From LIBER Quarterly, an article by Ellen Collins and Michael Jubb.

UK public policy makers have a growing interest in collaborative research, where academics work with public, private or third sector partners on a joint project which supports the partner’s aims. This paper reports on the findings of five case studies, looking at how information is sourced, managed, used and shared within collaborative research projects. It finds that researchers within collaborative projects have similar information management issues as are known to exist within academia more broadly, but that the specific conditions which govern research collaborations mean that interventions to improve or support information management must be carefully tailored.

http://liber.library.uu.nl/index.php/lq/article/view/8107/8709

The U. of Florida and the U. of Miami libraries collaborate

“The University of Florida and the University of Miami have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Collaborative Academic Library Collection, a shared collection that will be housed in Gainesville for long-term preservation and retention of low use or duplicate library materials.”

Found from LibraryStuff.net.

What’s new in library literature

A few new articles published recently on library collaboration

Neal J. Advancing From Kumbaya to Radical Collaboration: Redefining the Future Research Library. Journal Of Library Administration [serial online]. January 2011;51(1):66-76.

Kaufman, P. (2012). Let’s Get Cozy: Evolving Collaborations in the 21st Century. Journal Of Library Administration, 52(1), 53-69. doi:10.1080/01930826.2011.629962

Bedard, M., Hendrickson, D., Lubas, R., & Reenen, J. (2012). Library Information Technology Collaborations at the University of New Mexico. Journal Of Library Administration, 52(2), 203-216.

Cooper, O. O., & Bray, M. (2011). School Library Media Specialist-Teacher Collaboration: Characteristics, Challenges, Opportunities. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 55(4), 48-55.

TUCCILLO, D. P., JONES, S., & SAPERSTONE, H. (2012). Lights, Camera Collaboration!. Voice Of Youth Advocates, 34(6), 554-556.

Collaboration, the Hive Mind and Women

In a recent Read/Write/Web article called The Hive Mind Needs More Women, the author discusses the state of collaboration over the Internet and how the lack of women in the conversation is hurting collaborative efforts (Wikipedia and eBay were two examples given in the article). The author’s point is backed up by a recent study by MIT’s Center for Collective Intelligence that found that collaboration can be immediately improved by adding more women’s voices to the mix.
As librarianship is a field dominated by women, this reads to me as a call for us (men and women both, really) to get involved with collaborative efforts both within and outside of libraries. Our voices are important and necessary for the new “hive mind” of the Internet!

Request for Applications for VIVO

The VIVO Collaboration is pleased to announce the release of its Request for Applications (RFA) for the VIVO Collaborative Research Projects Program. Under this RFA, VIVO anticipates committing $250,000 dollars during the 2010-2011 academic year to provide funding for people and institutions interested in developing tools that use VIVO data or code to positively impact scientists and science.

Proposals are invited that target new systems or modifications to existing open source systems that:

• Consume or produce VIVO compatible data to improve scientific performance or results
• Improve the identification of potential collaborators or strengthen existing collaborations
• Reduce the work required by scientists to comply with reporting or other display requirements
• Link VIVO data to other linked open data systems
• Ingest scholarly data (e.g. papers, patents, grants, resources, course data)
• Create fundamental new opportunities for the advancement of science

Resulting tools must be open source and available for download from the VIVO software distribution web sites by the end of the funding period.

The due date for applications is December 10, 2010 by 5:00pm EST. For complete details, please see the full RFA text at http://vivoweb.org/files/VIVO RFA.pdf.

Collaborate Like You Mean It – Call for Papers

Call for Presentations
Due date: February 12, 2010

  The Colorado Academic Library Consortium Summit planning committee seeks proposals for presentation and poster sessions for the fourth CALC Summit. The Summit will be held at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel (6th Ave & Union) on May 20-21, 2010.
Collaborate Like You Mean It!

We’ve all heard that collaboration is important, but how can academic libraries forge lasting, effective partnerships both within and outside their institutions? What makes some partnerships succeed, and others fail?

Come share your successes, failures, research, and innovative ideas related to academic library collaboration. We’re particularly interested in proposals that address:
• Collaboration to expand library services or improve student success
• Collaboration to develop Web 2.0 applications
• Strategies for building and maintaining partnerships
• Inter-institutional collaboration
• Institutional barriers to collaborative efforts, and how to overcome them
• Assessing the success of collaborative efforts
• Collaboration with non-library partners
Presentation Options:

1. Concurrent Presentations:
A speaker or team of speakers presents for 45 or 75 minutes, with a 15-minute Q&A session after the presentation. Presentations that involve discussion, audience participation, or activities are strongly encouraged.

2. Poster Sessions:
A graphical presentation (paper or digital) of research results, case studies, projects, or ideas. Poster presenters will discuss their work with attendees during the poster session time slot.

Details:
Presentation and poster proposals will be reviewed and competitively selected by a committee of academic librarians.

Proposal Requirements:
• Names and full contact information of presenter(s)
• Title of presentation or digital poster session
• Abstract and brief outline (200 words max)
• Desired presentation length (45 or 75 minutes) or poster session
Submit proposals using this online form:

Proposals are due by February 12, 2010. You’ll be notified about the status of your proposal by March 12, 2010.

For more information visit www.calcweb.org or email jay.devaughn@ccaurora.edu
Sponsored by:
CALC – Colorado Academic Library Consortium
CLiC – Colorado Library Consortium
CoALA – Association of Colorado Libraries – Academic Division

New book on collaboration challenges assumptions

What’s the best way to collaborate?  What are the traps? 

“Collaboration: How Leaders Avoid the Traps, Create Unity, and Reap Big Results” a new book by Professor Morten Hansen (U.C. Berkeley and INSEAD) challenges some of our assumptions about collaborating with the goal of improving HOW we work together.  Check out an author video atn at: 

“It’s the dream of any organization to have all of its departments working together harmoniously for the greater good of all. But is collaboration within a company always a good thing? Author Morten Hansen thinks not and provides a guide on how to avoid common collaboration traps and how to create an environment in which collaboration can thrive.”

Publisher: Harvard Business School Press (May 11, 2009) ISBN-10: 1422115151