To: University Task Force Representatives
From: Paul Evan Peters
Subject: Working Together: A Planning Retreat for Library
and Information Technology Professionals
Date: August 9, 1994
The Coalition for Networked Information will be offering a workshop “Working Together: A Planning Retreat for Library and Information Technology Professionals” on October 5-7 in Washington, D.C. The workshop will provide an opportunity for a small number of institutional teams of librarians and information technologists to develop techniques to increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts and to begin a planning process for specific collaborative projects.
This will be the first time that this workshop will be offered, and it is targeted to reach senior administrators of libraries and computing centers in larger universities. You and your counterpart are invited to register for this workshop. Your institution meets the criteria for participation in this workshop, and I feel that you would have both something to gain and something to contribute by your attendance. Subsequent offerings of this workshop will target smaller colleges and single institutions.
One of the goals of the Coalition is to integrate efforts to support the overall information resources and services mission for the entire academic institution. By providing opportunities for senior administrators of libraries and senior administrators of information technologies in higher education institutions to work together in a common enterprise directed toward a shared future, the Coalition hopes to advance progress in this area. Many of the Coalition’s member institutions have institutional programs in which teams of individuals from the library and computing center are working collaboratively to develop campus information resources and/or deliver campus information services. Those institutions who do not have such collaborative relationships often would like to develop them. This workshop will be an intensive, participant-oriented event, using case studies and a variety of participative techniques. Participating teams will be asked to meet in advance of the workshop and to complete a form identifying their background and aspirations.
The workshop has been developed by Susan Jurow, Director, Office of Management Services, Association of Research Libraries and Gerry Bernbom, University Data Administrator in the Office of Information Technology, Indiana University. They will serve as facilitators of this workshop. A maximum of forty individuals will be registered, on a first-come, first-served basis. Institutions are required to send teams made up of senior librarians and information technologists (preferably counterparts), and they are encouraged to send more than two people (e.g. four people representing two levels of administration from each unit).
Some background information, a registration form, and a draft agenda are enclosed.
Questions on this program should be directed to Joan Lippincott, Assistant Executive Director, Coalition for Networked Information (joan@cni.org).