2018 Charleston Library Conference

"Collaboration is a fundamental value of librarianship enabling libraries to leverage resources for regional and group success. Collaboration brings together expertise enabling partners to build greater capabilities to meet library objectives. As collaborations are formed, libraries typically look to fellow libraries and agencies for assistance but there is another potential partner - vendors. The financial objectives of vendors may make them suspect as to their motives, however, vendors possess deep knowledge of industry trends, unique skill sets, and an extensive network of experts. Vendors share the same desire to solve library problems and a collaborative project may be a win-win solution.

While vendor partnerships may bring benefits for library collaborations, working with vendors requires an understanding of the complementary and oppositional goals of vendors and libraries. As projects are being developed, librarians should understand how the partnership will be enhanced through the vendor relationship. Specific goals and an articulation of outcomes and proposed work are essential in forming the collaboration. A different set of communication skills may be required for an effective working relationship of the partners. Constant monitoring of the collaboration will maintain the focus of the original project goals.

Participants will consider the benefits of working with vendors and will develop techniques to create successful collaborations. Communication techniques will be presented along with examples of successful and unsuccessful projects. Participants will gain insights for developing atypical partnerships that further library services. The program will include interactive exercises in order for participants to practice communication techniques. This program will be an instructive opportunity on a topic that librarians seldom consider and yet holds great promise of driving innovative services.
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