Jon E. Cawthorne
Dean of Libraries
West Virginia University
John Culshaw
University Librarian
University of Iowa
Geneva Henry
University Librarian and Vice Provost for Libraries
George Washington University
Joy Kirchner
Associate University Librarian for Content & Collections
University of Minnesota
A planning grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation was awarded to a team of seven librarians to determine whether the Centers of Excellence (CoE) model could serve as a means to provide the new services required for the effective use of digital information. We believed CoEs might be a model to cultivate skills needed to support emerging technologies and new information services. The team investigated more than 100 CoEs, narrowed our in-depth research to 35 centers that offered a unique service, design, history and/or funding model, and then interviewed 19 directors of CoEs as well as staff from seven funding organizations. The study explored the characteristics of CoEs, what makes them successful, and the challenges commonly faced by centers. Criteria were identified for forming, evaluating, and sustaining a CoE. Prior to last year’s spring CNI meeting, we had completed our interviews and were able to present preliminary data. After that meeting, we conducted focus groups and performed additional analysis which led us to surprising conclusions. Our work has now been published by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR): “The Center of Excellence Model for Information Services” (CLIR Report 163). In this session, we will present our recommendations for a viable concept for leveraging institutional strengths and building cross-institutional expertise more broadly. The session will be of interest to institutions or funders interested in building or supporting innovative cross-institutional partnerships.