Unusual Collaboration
Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Special Libraries Association conference - Vancouver
SLA Association Information Services Caucus, June 10, 2014
Goals for session
• Spot collaborative opportunities
• Identify benefits and pitfalls
• Share your ideas and experiences during roundtable
discussions
• Leave with new approaches and ideas for collaborative
ventures
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
REALTOR® University – NAR Library
partnership timeline
• 2009 - Presidential Advisory Group on Professionalism
• 2010 - initial meetings to secure library support, resources
• 2011 - pitched librarian enrollment idea; library resources designed
and implemented
• 2012 - first cohort begins classes
• 2013 - first students complete MRE degree
• 2014 - first commencement of 10 students
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Special-Academic hybrid
Special library
Academic library
• Member- and staff-centric
• Service centers on quick
reference, custom research,
resource access
• Objectives tied to Association
mission
• Supported by member dues of a
501 (c) (6) trade association
• Student- and faculty-centric
• Service centers on information
literacy, research guidance,
course support &
troubleshooting, writing center
support, tutorial development,
resource access
• Objectives tied to University
mission
• In-kind hours charged to 501 (c)
(3) educational institution
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Opportunities abound
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
New services, competencies
New patrons
Increased exposure, marketing
Library imbedded into program
Service on Board of Regents, committees
Tuition-paid degree = SMEs
Troubleshooting at grass-root level
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Speed-bumps ahead!
Benefits
Pitfalls
• New services, competencies
• New patrons
• Increased exposure,
marketing
• Library imbedded into
program
• Resource limitations – who
pays for what?
• Time commitment
• Additional stakeholders,
decreased autonomy
• New competencies
required
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Think outside the box library
Examples at National
Association of REALTORS®
Examples at other
organizations
• RAMCO tech support
• White paper projects
• REALTOR® Association
Resource Exchange
• “Last Copy” partnership
• Tech Launch Arizona/UA
library smart
commercialization
partnership
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Opportunity spotting
• A “problem” always holds opportunity potential! What
problems can you spot in your organization?
• What problem/need/niche would a collaborative effort fill?
• WIIFM WIIFL?
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Opportunity…or not
• What problem/need/niche does this collaborative effort fill?
• Is there agreement among and all decision-makers on what
the end result will be? Agreement on what will be required to
achieve that result?
• What will each contributor receive in the deal?
• What will each contributor need to give?
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Group discussions
Think about how your library engaged in an opportunity for a
unique partnership or collaborative effort.
• Group 1: Describe the effort and how it originated.
• Group 2: Describe some of the benefits/costs. Describe the
successes/disasters.
• Group 3: How might your library team “think outside the
library” to come up with an opportunity?
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study
Contact info
John Krukoff, Managing Director
[email protected]
Mary Martinez-Garcia, Manager
[email protected]
Unusual Collaboration Opportunities:
REALTOR® University Case Study