Cooperation and Collaboration

Master of Information and Library Science Capstone Portfolio

Cooperation and Collaboration

2. The research librarian supports cooperation and collaboration to enhance service.

"Is able to work effectively with diverse groups, creating an environment of mutual respect 
Forms and maintains partnerships both within and outside of the university community 
Seeks opportunities to share expertise and knowledge 
Works effectively as part of a team 
Provides leadership"1

1. Is able to work effectively with diverse groups, creating an environment of mutual respect

ILS514 Materials and Services for Adults with Dr. Elsie Okobi
ILS585 Field Project with Dr. Yan Quan Liu
ILS560 College and University Libraries with Dr. James Kusack

Working with diverse groups is an important aspect of research librarianship. Patrons in the form of students, faculty and guest researchers can be and often are international. The librarian must be able to listen carefully to many accents and be professional and responsive. The adult services, class addressed the diversity of adult library users, the field work showed a diversity of patrons who use digital materials and services and the college and university libraries course addressed the variety of people with different backgrounds, genders, religions, sexual preferences etc. will be met with in the university community. The research librarian is responsive to all questions and all types of patrons.

2. Forms and maintains partnerships both within and outside of the university community 

ILS600 Independent Study with Dr. Yan Quan Liu
Graduate Assistantship with Dr. Yan Quan Liu

A dialog with colleagues both within and without the library is crucial to maintaining and building the wider university library community. membership in the ALA, the ARL and other regional organizations is crucial to maintaining the dialog and cooperation. It is an important way of learning new ideas that colleagues are trying, new studies being coordinated, etc..

3. Seeks opportunities to share expertise and knowledge 

Graduate Assistantship with Dr. Yan Quan Liu

These associations mentioned above are a good way of representing the university and library of which the librarian is a member. I had the opportunity as Graduate Assistant to take part in a professional meeting on behalf of Dr. Liu. It was great experience to be able to take part both as a presenter and as a guest who got to learn about all the new studies being made by different universities in the Connecticut State University System.

4. Works effectively as part of a team 

ILS680 Evaluation And Research with Dr. Eino Sierpe
ILS504 Reference and Information Resources and Services with Dr. Elsie Okobi

Working as part of a team in a university setting is a requirement. One works with colleagues in the unit of a department, with the rest of the department team. Moreover one needs to take part in various meetings and library groups for the benefit of the library. In classes at Southern we worked in groups in the Evaluation and REsearch course, in the reference course, in the college and university course. Sometimes it was in large groups of four or five, while other times it was as partners. The most difficult was the research class where we had to evaluate each others work. Dissecting someone else's work in order to help them with their writing is problematic. However, by the end of the class we had worked through our inhibitions and really helped each other grow as writers and researchers.

5. Provides leadership

ILS565 Library Management with Dr. James Kusack

The most important thing that I learned from Dr. Kusack in the management class is that every librarian, regardless of type of library is a manager. The sooner the library science student understands this aspect of librarianship the better. One is part of a complex hierarchical structure very often managing a collection, students and paraprofessionals in small or large numbers. The management aspect is crucial for a positive working environment for everyone involved both workers and patrons.

1 Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) (1999) Shaping The Future:  ASERL's Competencies For Research Librarians. Retrieved May 14, 2009 from: http://www.aserl.org/statements/competencies/competencies.htm

Corner Image: Books.gif : GIF Image - Size 6677 bytes - 84X75 pixels. Retrieved August 19, 2006, from:http://build.tripod.lycos.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/pictures/objects/law/books.gif

2008 Capstone portfolio for Master of Information and Library Science Degree for Southern Connecticut State University