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Becoming a 21st Century Librarian Through Long Distance Collaboration
by Pam Harland and Pam CarrLibraries are no longer housed in old brick buildings, with a shushing stereotype of a librarian seated behind the desk. Libraries are gateways to information from all around the world, and the 21st century librarian must keep up as partnerships and collaborators move from the desk around the corner to the other side of the globe.
We know that we do our best work when we have others to share both ideas and the workload. Work is fun and easy when you work well with someone. But, what if that person moves across the country? Can you continue to work together as effectively as if that person were still in the same building?
We believe that you can - and must - learn how to collaborate with whoever lights your fire and keeps your creative spark burning. The business world focuses on balancing effectiveness and efficiency. In libraries, we frequently focus on our books or our patrons, forgetting that there are wonderful tools that can make our jobs easier and more fun. Whether you are creating new library policies, establishing a school-wide research procedure, or writing an article for publication, when professionals collaborate, the results are astonishing.
The Basics
E-mail is obvious and the most basic method of collaborating over a distance. But everyone interested in long-distance collaboration now needs an instant messaging (IM) account, too. Google, AOL, Yahoo!, ICM - the tool doesn't matter - as long as you and your partner(s) can communicate. We sometimes need immediate feedback, and this is how we do it.
A special note about instant messaging: Some public institutions like town buildings and schools prohibit the use of IM services. If this occurs in your institution, make sure you bring your case to the people in charge, either the Information Technology Department or your immediate supervisor. This is an easy fix, and a very useful tool.
Share Documents
We adore using Zoho Writer, which allows you to access a document from anywhere and share your ideas with multiple users. Using a product like this ensures you are always working with the most current version of a document. When e- mailing attachments back and forth, it is easy to get confused about versions.
Zoho Writer will even change the language of your document when collaborating with people from around the world. We are also happy that it offers word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software options. Whatever you are working on, you can share it, and each person can give input and make changes to the document either by saving over the original or by creating a new version.
Share Online Resources
Try an online bookmark service, which is free and easy to use. We like SiteJot, because it allows you to create a categorized list of web sites which you can access from any computer; you can also make it public for collaboration purposes.
Work in Groups
Perhaps you are on a team that finds it difficult, if not impossible, to meet in person. We also recommend sharing resources by establishing an online group. We have created a Yahoo! group where we can store files, links, and images, and can easily comment and respond to each other. We have found that a group works best when working with more than one other person; establishing an online group for only two people is just too cumbersome. In addition to Yahoo! groups, try Google or MSN, or even establish MySpace accounts and create a group there. (It's not just for teenagers anymore!)
Share Timelines
Create a calendar, schedule meetings, and enforce deadlines. Google has a great new calendar tool that you can use to publish and share with partners. Make sure you stick to the schedule and encourage each other. When you have a new policy to create or an idea for a new research unit, create and share your deadlines with your partner so that the work gets done. When you are working with someone, you will be more motivated to meet these established deadlines.
Blog
Set up a blog to share your ideas with your partner - and the world. People interested in your work will be able to read what you have written and comment on what you have done. We use Blogger, a free service that allows you to publish your thoughts and get immediate feedback from readers.
All of these ideas foster spontaneous and mutual sharing of information, without a lot of interruption. Also, all of the resources are free - which is of vital importance to librarians everywhere. These ideas are not limited to long-distance collaboration: Share documents online with the teacher down the hall, or the librarian who is tied to the reference desk.
Stay in touch with the people with whom you have shared success via long distance collaboration. Good collaborations will almost always result in exciting ideas, renewed energy for a project, and improved library services.
Pam Harland received her MLS from Drexel University in 1994. She is the Library Media Specialist and Research Integrator at the Plymouth Regional High School in Plymouth, NH. Pam is the Technology Chair of the New Hampshire Educational Media Association, and lives in Rumney, NH with her husband and two boxers. She can be reached at pharland@pemi-baker.sau48.k12.nh.us.
Pam Carr received her Master of Science in Business Education in 1992. She is a computer science teacher at Oyster River High School in Durham, NH. In addition to her teaching responsibilities she is also co-adviser of the school's National Honor Society. She lives in Brentwood, NH with her husband and daughter, and can be reached at pcarr@orcsd.org.