Back in April we hosted a roundtable discussion, in partnership with OpenAthens, to explore how academic librarians and IT professionals can work together and meet emerging challenges for patrons head on. Our panel consisted of:
Matthew Weldon, Library Patron Consultant, Technology from Sage
Adam Snook, Technical Consultant, OpenAthens
Craig Amos, Associate Dean of Library Access and Delivery, Broward College
Emma Adamson, Director of Learning Services, University of South Wales
In case you missed the discussion, you can catch up below:
Read on to discover our 9 key takeaways from the roundtable discussion with our panel:
1. Collaboration is Crucial for Success
Speakers emphasized that librarians and IT professionals working together can help overcome challenges such as upskilling and institutional barriers, leading to more effective and innovative solutions in higher education.
"The end result was that we achieved more by doing it together than by working separately. So that's my view, it doesn't mean it's always easy. And I think there's recognition that sometimes there may be competing priorities, and, and different sort of understanding around what the challenges and the solutions are." – Emma Adamson
2. Mixed Confidence in AI-Related Skills
The discussion highlighted that while 53% of librarians feel somewhat competent in advising patrons on AI, there is a significant need for further upskilling. The third Librarian Futures report revealed that many librarians are less confident in their ability to answer questions on generative AI, indicating a gap in knowledge that needs to be addressed.
3. Daily or Weekly Collaboration is Rare
Despite the acknowledged benefits of collaboration, only 14% of institutions report daily or weekly collaboration between librarians and IT professionals. This statistic underscores the need for more structured and frequent communication channels between these departments.
4. Barriers to Upskilling
Librarians face several barriers to upskilling, including a lack of time and resources. Additionally, the third Librarian Futures report pointed out that IT departments are often not involved in librarians' skill development, which creates a gap that needs bridging for more cohesive growth and technological competences.
"I know that AI is the huge buzzword that comes up every single webinar and every single event these days, but there were things beyond that as well that I thought were worth drawing attention to here. There are challenges in the way of librarians looking to upskill themselves, we found that there was a real appetite for upskilling and for development." – Matthew Weldon
5. Successful Collaboration Models
The webinar showcased successful collaboration models, such as the implementation of single sign-on (SSO) systems. These systems have made it significantly easier for students to access library resources, demonstrating the practical benefits of effective collaboration between IT and library teams.
"When we onboarded with OpenAthens, we worked with the systems office with the state consortium, but our IT team were heroic, and they made us a priority. And we worked with our networking team, and we're able to get directly under the secure single sign on for the institution." – Craig Amos
6. Innovative Projects and Partnerships
One notable example of successful collaboration is the partnership between higher education institutions in Wales and the National Health Service. Together, they developed a cloud-hosted library management system that saved money and enabled open research access, showcasing the power of cross-institutional collaboration.
7. The Role of Executive Leadership
Executive leadership buy-in is critical for the success of collaborative projects. The speakers highlighted the importance of having librarians involved in decision-making processes and explaining their roles clearly to other departments to foster understanding and support.
8. Navigating the Impact of AI
The integration of AI in academic research requires a collaborative approach. IT and library professionals need to work together to address AI concerns, ensuring quality assurance and ownership of work. The speakers stressed that no single department has a monopoly on AI skills, making inter-departmental collaboration essential.
9. Evolving Library Services
The shift towards hybrid and online courses is transforming how libraries deliver information. The speakers discussed the need for agility and understanding emerging needs as technology evolves. Tools like SpringShare were praised for allowing libraries to access various resources affordably, highlighting the need for flexible and adaptive library services.
"Modern librarianship is often now getting even more technical than ever with a lot of systems librarians out there, not just whatever the traditional librarian is. I think going back to the danger, different people, different teams generally have different goals. That's inevitable that there's going to be different strategies. But I think it's by communicating with one another understanding each other's different goals, you can see where things align, and also try and avoid where they clash." – Adam Snook
Results of our audience polls:
1. As a librarian do you feel confident with advising patrons on using AI?
2. Are you happy with your current relationship with your IT team?
3. How often do librarians and IT professionals collaborate at your institution?
4. What skills do you feel least confident with?
Our roundtable discussion highlighted the critical role of collaboration between librarians and IT professionals in navigating the future of higher education. By addressing barriers to upskilling, leveraging executive leadership, and embracing innovative solutions, institutions can enhance their library services and better support their academic communities.
