A perspective on collaborative partnerships to expand campus buy-in for digital collections
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-05-2021-0038 |
| Published date | 30 March 2022 |
| Date | 30 March 2022 |
| Pages | 521-531 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
| Author | Bethany Latham |
A perspective on collaborative
partnerships to expand campus
buy-in for digital collections
Bethany Latham
Department of Technical Services, Houston Cole Library,
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of thispaper is to explore, from the perspective of a medium-sized academic library,
how libraries can pursueand use collaboration with other units on campus to increase supportand buy-in for
digital collections.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper is approached from the perspective of a medium-sized
academic library located in Alabama, USA. This study examinesways to foster collaboration with diverse
campus units, the challenges that canbe encountered and ways to overcome these barriers to collaboration.
Examplesof the potentialand realized benefits are also enumerated.
Findings –This paper demonstrates that, while thereare challenges that must be overcome, regular and
sustained collaboration withnonlibrary campus units can result in the creation of unique digital collections
that such units are not capableof pursuing without library partnership. These partnershipsincrease visibility
for the library and its services, as well as buy-in and supportfor digital collections from other campus units
and, importantly,university administration.
Practical implications –Academic libraries, especially those at small- to medium-sized institutions, face
continual budget restrictions and calls to justify the resources expended. This impacts all aspects of library
services, but especially the creation of digital collections, which are cost- and labor-intensive. By offering examples
of collaboration, libraries can explore ways to partner that will foster buy-in and support at their own institutions.
Originality/value –This paper providesexamples and details considerations that can makethe process of
collaborationsimpler and more effective for other academic libraries to pursue.
Keywords Digital collections, Collaboration, Academic partnerships, Special collections,
Stakeholders, Library services, University stakeholders
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
It comes perilously close to stating the obvious thatdigital collections are some of the most
costly and labor intensive resources for libraries to create and maintain. Yet university
stakeholders –students, faculty and especially administration outside the library –
erroneously think of such resources as spontaneously generating, cheap and universal: the
“it is all online somewhere”refrain librarians hear ad nauseam and the assumption that
online equals free. The inaccuracy of this view is especially apparent when it comes to
collections of institutional content, where lack of expertise and resources coupled with
fragmentation of responsibility habitually wreak havoc. Various campus entities assume
that other campus units are making accessible and, perhaps more importantly, preserving
certain content. Each assumes someone else bears the responsibility, and the end result is
that it is shouldered by none. Even when responsibility is clearly delineated in policy, in
practice, definitions can be hazyand policy not adhered to in a systematic way. This is how
valuable and unique institutionalresources are lost.
Perspective on
collaborative
partnerships
521
Received5 May 2021
Revised27 July 2021
Accepted12 September 2021
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.38 No. 4, 2022
pp. 521-531
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-05-2021-0038
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