datalis

Bridging Skills and Community: A Dual-Approach to Enhancing Library Collaborations

Team’s Innovative Prototype for Strengthening Library-Community Partnerships and Professional Development

Addressing the challenge of fostering meaningful collaborations between library professionals and community partners, the team set forth a revised problem statement focused on identifying and developing the necessary skills for both parties to contribute effectively to community goals and advance careers in meaningful ways.

How might we help community partners/library professionals identify and build skills needed to collaborate to contribute to community goals and advance careers in meaningful ways.

The solution proposed by the team revolves around a two-pronged approach, aimed at creating a dynamic ecosystem where library workers and community partners can thrive through mutual support and shared objectives.

The prototype introduces a structured platform designed to bridge the gap between library professionals’ skill sets and community needs. This innovative solution consists of two main components:

1. Skill Database for Library Workers: A comprehensive database that catalogs the skills and areas of expertise library workers aim to develop. This tool not only helps library professionals to articulate and showcase their skill sets but also serves as a repository for identifying growth areas aligned with community needs.

2. Community Partner Needs Identification: Parallel to the skill database, the platform identifies community partners looking for specific skills and expertise. This component is crucial for pinpointing real-world opportunities where library professionals’ skills can be applied to address community challenges, thus fostering a collaborative environment conducive to mutual benefit.

Promoting Skills and Services:

A key feature of the prototype is the promotional mechanism designed to highlight the available expertise within the library workforce to potential community partners. This visibility not only showcases the diverse talents of library professionals but also opens doors to new partnership opportunities, aligning library services more closely with community objectives.

Facilitating Connections:

Central to the team’s vision is the facilitation of connections between library workers and community partners. By providing a clear window into the skills available within the library sector and the needs of the community, the platform acts as a catalyst for establishing meaningful collaborations. These partnerships not only contribute to community goals but also offer library professionals avenues for career advancement and personal growth through impactful work.

The team’s innovative prototype addresses the critical need for structured mechanisms that enhance the ability of library professionals to engage in meaningful collaborations with community partners. By focusing on skill development and the promotion of library expertise, the solution paves the way for more effective contributions to community goals and enriches the professional trajectories of those in the library sector. This approach not only strengthens the ties between libraries and their communities but also underscores the vital role library professionals play in advancing societal objectives.

Team 10 Members

Thanks to these project team members for their collaboration with DATALIS and their contributions towards innovating professional development.

• Sarah Siddiqui
• Gale Etschmaier
• Jason Clarke

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Empowering Diversity in Libraries: A Collaborative Blueprint for Change

An Innovative Approach to Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion within Library Workforces

Team Six addressed a crucial challenge within the library community: fostering an inclusive environment that actively supports and increases full-time, permanent positions for underrepresented staff. Their solution emphasizes the power of collaboration both within and between institutions to create a workforce where diversity is not just welcomed but empowered.

The team’s updated problem statement focused on devising strategies to assist library recruiters and staff in transforming the library workforce to be more inclusive of underrepresented groups, thereby fostering a sense of empowerment among these staff members. Recognizing the complexities of this challenge, Team Six presented a prototype that utilizes collaboration as a key mechanism for achieving these goals.

How might we help library recruiters and staff transform the workforce to support an increase in full time, permanent underrepresented staff that feel empowered in the workplace.

Within Institutions: The team proposed the creation of identity-based employee resource groups and staff working groups with feedback loops. These initiatives aim to provide safe spaces for underrepresented staff to share their experiences and contribute to creating a culture of care and inclusiveness within the library. Additionally, the introduction of a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) self-assessment audit, as practiced by Millie’s institution, offers a structured approach for libraries to evaluate and improve their DEI efforts.

To ensure these initiatives are sustainable, Team Six underscored the importance of identifying long-term funding sources. This is particularly crucial for transitioning short-term or unpaid roles into full-time, permanent positions that are attractive to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) staff, thereby promoting a more diverse library workforce.

Between Institutions: Expanding on the concept of collaboration, Team Six suggested leveraging identity-based interest groups within national organizations and engaging with professionals in compatible fields outside their own institutions. This broader network of collaboration could facilitate the sharing of resources, ideas, and best practices, thereby enhancing the collective capability of libraries to support diversity and inclusion. Additionally, the team advocated for cross-institutional audits and grant-funded projects as means to share resources and expertise on a larger scale.

Team Six’s presentation highlighted the essential role of collaboration in driving meaningful change within the library workforce. By encouraging both internal and external partnerships, libraries can create more inclusive environments that not only attract but also empower underrepresented staff. This approach not only benefits individual institutions but also strengthens the library profession as a whole, making it more reflective of the diverse communities it serves.

In summary, this proposes a collaborative, thoughtful, and actionable blueprint to tackle one of the library sector’s most pressing challenges. Their approach serves as a testament to the power of collective effort in fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and empowered library workforce.

Team 6 Members

Thanks to these project team members for their collaboration with DATALIS and their contributions towards innovating professional development.

• Synatra Smith
• Millie Fullmer
• Stephanie Kern

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Charting Personal Growth: Innovating Professional Development in Library Science

A Vision for a Tailored Learning Journey Within the LIS Sector

Team Three addressed the need for continuous professional development within the Library and Information Science (LIS) sector, focusing on cultivating professional satisfaction and supporting organizational health. They tackled the critical question: How might library workers at all career stages define, develop, and iterate their own learning journeys to enhance professional fulfillment and contribute to the vitality of their organizations?

How might we help library workers at all levels of career growth define, develop and iterate their own learning journey to cultivate professional satisfaction and support organizational health.

Their innovative approach emphasized the diversity of development needs across different career levels within the LIS field. By conceptualizing professional growth as an interconnected series of gears—each representing different stages of a library worker’s career—they highlighted the dynamic nature of skill development and organizational influence.

At the heart of their solution is the notion that professional development should be adaptive and reflective of an individual’s career stage. For early-career professionals, development opportunities should be broad, introducing a wide range of skills and knowledge areas. As professionals advance to mid-career stages, the focus narrows, targeting specialized skills that deepen their expertise. Senior-level professionals, meanwhile, concentrate on highly specific areas of development that not only further their own growth but also significantly impact their organizations.

The team identified an existing platform, Skilltype, as a tool that aligns with their vision. This platform helps individuals and administrators identify skill gaps and construct personalized learning journeys, addressing the exact challenge Team Three aimed to solve. Though the team did not develop a new prototype, their exploration of Skill Type and the conceptual framework they presented offer valuable insights into creating more personalized, effective professional development paths in the LIS sector.

The approach acknowledges the evolving nature of the LIS field and the external factors that influence it. By advocating for a system that supports personal agency in professional development, they propose a method that not only fills existing skill gaps but also anticipates and adapts to the industry’s future needs.

This proposal is a call to action for LIS professionals and organizations to embrace a more customized, strategic approach to professional development. By doing so, the LIS field can ensure its workforce remains agile, satisfied, and well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the information age.

Team 3 Members

Thanks to these project team members for their collaboration with DATALIS and their contributions towards innovating professional development.

• Scott McClellan
• Amy Pham
• Kiley Jolicoeur

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Revitalizing Library and Information Science: A Collaborative Approach to Attraction and Advocacy

How a New Perspective on Hiring Can Transform LIS Professionals’ Approach to Advocacy and Attraction

In a recent collaborative effort, a team of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals tackled a critical issue facing their field: the challenge of making the LIS profession more appealing and demonstrating the global importance of information science. This initiative aimed to address the broader question of how LIS professionals and students can effectively advocate for their field and their skills, emphasizing their significance worldwide. The team’s deliberations led to a refined problem statement focusing on enhancing the field’s attractiveness.

How might we help make the library science field more attractive.

Recognizing the diverse audience that includes students, existing professionals, and job seekers in the LIS field, the team proposed an innovative solution to this problem. The cornerstone of their strategy involves reevaluating the hiring process within LIS institutions, a concept initiated by one team member at her university, which has shown promising results. The approach centers on a “Search Advocate Program,” where an individual outside the hiring institution plays a pivotal role in the hiring process. This advocate’s primary function is to bring an external lens to the recruitment process, challenging any norms or un-stated assumptions. By challenging these norms, the program aims to uncover the essential skills and competencies truly needed for the job, potentially opening doors to a broader range of candidates.

This team member’s explanation of the program highlights its success in her larger university context, where questioning the “whys” behind job requirements has led to a more inclusive and flexible approach to hiring. This methodology not only makes the positions more accessible to a diverse applicant pool but also helps in aligning job descriptions with the actual needs of the library. The team believes that adopting this mindset and training hiring personnel to apply this questioning approach universally could significantly enhance the appeal of the LIS profession.

Moreover, the team suggests a long-term strategy to support smaller institutions or those without the resources to implement a formal Search Advocate Program. This involves making training materials and expertise available online, allowing these organizations to benefit from the program’s insights and methodologies.

This holistic approach to rethinking LIS hiring practices is a step towards making LIS appealing to a broader group of potential employees. By focusing on what is genuinely needed for a job rather than sticking to traditional, possibly outdated requirements, the LIS profession can open itself up to innovative perspectives and skills, enriching the field and ensuring its relevance in the modern information landscape.

The team’s proposal presents a clear, actionable solution to the challenge of advocating for and enhancing the attractiveness of the Library and Information Science field. Through collaborative effort and a willingness to challenge the status quo, LIS professionals can invigorate their field, ensuring its growth and sustainability in the years to come.

Team 1 Members

Thanks to these project team members for their collaboration with DATALIS and their contributions towards innovating professional development.

• Kate Kargozari
• Laura Kathryn
• Nicole Jones
• Beth FilarWilliams

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Please review the story and answer the five questions based on your knowledge, experience, and perspective. Your feedback will help us to innovate professional education that impacts recruitment, growth, and retention.