Michigan Library Association: Communities of Practice Michigan Academic Library Council November 7, 2008

Overview Transitional Leadership Forum Communities of Practice theory MLA Pilot COPs Academic libraries at MLA MALC as a pilot COP

Transitional Leadership Forum

Communities of Practice theory

MLA Pilot COPs

Academic libraries at MLA

MALC as a pilot COP

MLA Today

Communities of Practice & TLF Transitional Leadership Forum (TLF) Charge – study and recommend a plan to establish COPs to provide members an opportunity to network and pursue topics of interest. Result – bold vision for the future of MLA

Transitional Leadership Forum (TLF)

Charge – study and recommend a plan to establish COPs to provide members an opportunity to network and pursue topics of interest.

Result – bold vision for the future of MLA

Communities of Practice & TLF TLF Outcomes for COPs Open access to all and broad participation of members A supportive forum for networking and discussion A simple, clear, easy process to get involved A ‘ warehouse ’ of member-created resources The incubation of new initiatives A positive , rewarding culture within MLA A powerful, united presence in the community at-large

TLF Outcomes for COPs

Open access to all and broad participation of members

A supportive forum for networking and discussion

A simple, clear, easy process to get involved

A ‘ warehouse ’ of member-created resources

The incubation of new initiatives

A positive , rewarding culture within MLA

A powerful, united presence in the community at-large

Communities of Practice Theory Etienne Wenger http://www.ewenger.com/ “ Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.”

Etienne Wenger

http://www.ewenger.com/

“ Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.”

Communities of Practice Theory 3 characteristics The domain: Identity defined by shared domain of interest Shared competence and commitment The community: Build relationships, learn from each other Discussions, help each other, share info Not just a website The practice: Members are practitioners Build shared resources

3 characteristics

The domain:

Identity defined by shared domain of interest

Shared competence and commitment

The community:

Build relationships, learn from each other

Discussions, help each other, share info

Not just a website

The practice:

Members are practitioners

Build shared resources

Communities of Practice Theory Roles Required: Leader – guides the community’s purpose and strategic intent Member – participates and contributes/receives knowledge Optional: Champion – promotes the value of membership across the group Facilitator – fosters and facilitates interaction Subject Matter Experts – knowledgeable and experienced members of the community Content Editor – maintains accuracy of community content

Roles

Required:

Leader – guides the community’s purpose and strategic intent

Member – participates and contributes/receives knowledge

Optional:

Champion – promotes the value of membership across the group

Facilitator – fosters and facilitates interaction

Subject Matter Experts – knowledgeable and experienced members of the community

Content Editor – maintains accuracy of community content

Communities of Practice Theory Lifecycle

Lifecycle

MLA Pilot COPs “ Looking for a Few Good COPs” Pilots play, experiment, discover Variety different goals, results, technologies: Group that only wants to meet online Group that wants to meet online and in person Group that wants to work on a project, publication or program idea Be innovative

“ Looking for a Few Good COPs”

Pilots

play, experiment, discover

Variety

different goals, results, technologies:

Group that only wants to meet online

Group that wants to meet online and in person

Group that wants to work on a project, publication or program idea

Be innovative

MLA Pilot COPs Ideas for academics Academic Libraries for the 21 st century Embedded / Solo Librarians Economic Gardening Consumer Health Best practices in Information Literacy Open Access

Ideas for academics

Academic Libraries for the 21 st century

Embedded / Solo Librarians

Economic Gardening

Consumer Health

Best practices in Information Literacy

Open Access

MLA Pilot COPs What Will the Pilots Do? Document their experiences Experiment with technology Participate in a Community Day about COPs Communicate progress Report at 2009 MLA Annual Conference

What Will the Pilots Do?

Document their experiences

Experiment with technology

Participate in a Community Day about COPs

Communicate progress

Report at 2009 MLA Annual Conference

MLA Pilot COPs Benefits for academics Opportunity to network with peers on topics of interest or concern Virtual – Inclusive Be a leader and take initiative Meet tenure and promotion requirements Research, scholarship, publishing Presentations, creative activities Leadership Make it what you need it to be Ideas bubble up from members

Benefits for academics

Opportunity to network with peers on topics of interest or concern

Virtual – Inclusive

Be a leader and take initiative

Meet tenure and promotion requirements

Research, scholarship, publishing

Presentations, creative activities

Leadership

Make it what you need it to be

Ideas bubble up from members

Academic Libraries at MLA Publishing MLA Forum , peer-reviewed, open access Looking for articles for 2008 and 2009 issues Articles for Michigan Libraries 6 issues per year News, columns, reports Publications created by COPs, author/editor

Publishing

MLA Forum , peer-reviewed, open access

Looking for articles for 2008 and 2009 issues

Articles for Michigan Libraries

6 issues per year

News, columns, reports

Publications created by COPs, author/editor

Academic Libraries at MLA Presenting Opportunities to present at annual conference and workshops Open call for 2009 conference proposals early 2009 juried process COPs involvement can lead to program proposals

Presenting

Opportunities to present at annual conference and workshops

Open call for 2009 conference proposals

early 2009

juried process

COPs involvement can lead to program proposals

Academic Libraries at MLA Service Opportunity to serve on or chair workgroup or committee Call for volunteers, early 2009 Communities of Practice Propose, lead, take on significant role Share subject expertise COPs can be part of a “career path” through MLA: COPs leader Committee member Committee chair Board member

Service

Opportunity to serve on or chair workgroup or committee

Call for volunteers, early 2009

Communities of Practice

Propose, lead, take on significant role

Share subject expertise

COPs can be part of a “career path” through MLA:

COPs leader Committee member

Committee chair Board member

Academic Libraries at MLA

Academic Libraries at MLA

Academic Libraries at MLA

Academic Libraries at MLA 189 Academic Members (as of 10/31/08) Breakdown by job categories 28 Dean/Director 20 Manager/Dept. Head 141 other job categories Breakdown by library type 98 COLD 50 DIAL-M 26 MCCL 15 Other

189 Academic Members (as of 10/31/08)

Breakdown by job categories

28 Dean/Director

20 Manager/Dept. Head

141 other job categories

Breakdown by library type

98 COLD

50 DIAL-M

26 MCCL

15 Other

MALC as a Community of Practice COP characteristics Build relationships / network Shared practice / domain of interest Community built resources / knowledge sharing More than just a website Membership Only academic directors Closed group Technology MLA can provide discussion list MALC website continues

COP characteristics

Build relationships / network

Shared practice / domain of interest

Community built resources / knowledge sharing

More than just a website

Membership

Only academic directors

Closed group

Technology

MLA can provide discussion list

MALC website continues

MALC as a Community of Practice Advantages We’re looking for a pilot COP that wants to meet once or twice a year in person MLA staff can coordinate meeting logistics MALC members can continue collecting data and building member resources Increased academic membership at MLA = Increased emphasis on academic issues Speak with one voice

Advantages

We’re looking for a pilot COP that wants to meet once or twice a year in person

MLA staff can coordinate meeting logistics

MALC members can continue collecting data and building member resources

Increased academic membership at MLA = Increased emphasis on academic issues

Speak with one voice

MALC as a Community of Practice It’s up to you!

It’s up to you!

Contact information Kathy M. Irwin Senior Associate Librarian University of Michigan-Dearborn 2008-2009 MLA President 313-593-5598 [email_address] Michigan Library Association Gretchen Couraud, MLA Executive Director, [email_address] 517-394-2774 http:// www.mla.lib.mi.us

Kathy M. Irwin

Senior Associate Librarian

University of Michigan-Dearborn

2008-2009 MLA President

313-593-5598

[email_address]

Michigan Library Association

Gretchen Couraud, MLA Executive Director, [email_address]

517-394-2774

http:// www.mla.lib.mi.us