This document discusses the benefits of collaboration between different types of libraries. It argues that working together allows libraries to share resources and expertise, providing more support and relevance while reducing stress. Various types of potential partnerships are described, such as programming partnerships between academic and public libraries or resource sharing between public libraries and local schools. The document encourages librarians to think of their patrons rather than just themselves and to break down barriers between different types of libraries. Partnerships at conferences and creating "library buddies" are presented as ways to strengthen collaborative relationships.

1. PRESENTED BY:
REGINA REYNOLDS-CASPER
ERIC COULBOURNE

2. ONLY THROUGH WORKING TOGETHER
CAN WE BE STRONGER!
Collaboration (aka Teamwork)
=
Strength and Less Stress

3. WHY DO IT?
 It is about having SUPPORT
 Proving our RELEVANCE
 It’s about having RESOURCES
 It’s about taking advantage of the RESOURCES
AROUND YOU
 No one knows everything!

4. LIMITATIONS:
 Staff
 Time
 Budget
 Resources
 Learn to say no gracefully
 Be aware what they are

5. RELATIONSHIPS:
Different Relationships and Their Give and Take
Academic
Library
Public Library
Academic
Program
Public Library
Academic
Library
High School
Library
Public Library Elementary
School
Libraries
Public Library Pre-Schools
and Day
Cares
Public Library Community
Academic
Library
Academic
Program
Public Library Academic
Library
Academic
Program

6. NON-TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
 Programming [Academic and Public Library]
 Soliciting Expertise [Academic Library, Public Library, and Academic
Program]
 Programming and Education [Academic Library, Public Library, and
Academic Program]
 Programming [Public Library and Daycares]
 Resource Sharing [Academic Library and High School Library]
 Resource Sharing [Public Library and Elementary School Library]
 Programming [Public Library and Community Group]
 Staffing [Academic Program and Public Library]

8. ME VS. US:
(DON’T COMPETE - COLLABORATE!)
 Don’t think of YOU think of your PATRONS
 Break the Wall
 Secular does NOT and CANNOT exist in this global
community
Why?
We all work past our genre of library
Resources are low
We are all stretched to the limit
ME US

9. CONFERENCES:
 Opportunity to LEARN
 Opportunity to NETWORK
 Opportunity to RELATE
 Opportunity to CREATE
 Opportunity to INSPIRE
Walk a mile pushing someone else’s
bookcart!

10. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD:
IT TAKES A STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP TO ENSURE THE LIBRARY’S
VITALITY IN THEIR COMMUNITY
 Communities are not defined by
Zip Code
Kind of Institution
County
State
Or even country
 The Library Community is GLOBAL
 We are already a melting pot - there are no borders

11. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
 Rome was not built in a day - Don’t get discouraged
 Sometimes you have to prove your value before you are
accepted into the “community”
 You never know who you are talking to
 Always display professional courtesy
 Sometimes a face to face visit is best
 Kill ‘em with kindness
 Be persistent
 Be consistent

12. Share your buddy
experiences!
Who do you want
to be your
library buddy?

13. CONTACT INFO:
Regina Reynolds-Casper
Director of Learning Resources
Barton Community College
casperr@bartonccc.edu
Eric Coulbourne
Children’s Librarian
Great Bend Public Library
ecoulbourne@ckls.org