Dartmouth Library and Computing Retreat Kicks Off Joint Planning, 
Projects

The library and computing departments of Dartmouth College have embarked 
on what is hoped will be a long and mutually satisfying endeavor:  an 
exploration of collaboration within the changing environment of 
scholarly communication and research.

Collaboration between the two units is not a new phenomenon; the 
Dartmouth College Information System is a testament to their established 
ability to work together.  Trends in their respective areas, however, 
have prompted a renewed interest in deepening ties.  During the past 
decade, advances in information technology and changes in the patterns 
of scholarly communication have altered the roles and responsibilities 
of computer centers and libraries at many institutions.  Dartmouth has 
been no exception, and its leaders have recognized the high stakes 
involved. 

In October 1994, Margaret Otto, Librarian of the College, Larry Levine, 
Director of Computing, John James, Director of Collection Services, and 
Malcolm Brown, Director of Academic Computing, attended a "planning 
retreat" for library and information technology professionals sponsored 
by the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI).  Conducted by Susan 
Jurow, Director of the ARL's Office of Management Services, and Gerry 
Bernbom, Assistant Director of Data Administration at Indiana 
University, the goals of the program were to help library and 
information technology professionals identify areas of collaboration and 
to take advantage of the identified opportunities to improve information 
services provided to the participants' user communities.  Otto and 
Levine were so stimulated by the sessions that they decided to bring 
home their renewed enthusiasm and to make a commitment to pursue joint 
opportunities at Dartmouth.

As a first step toward truly active and effective collaboration, Otto 
and Levine invited Jurow to assist them in building cooperative 
relationships between members of their organizations.  In December, 
Jurow conducted an on-site planning retreat for nearly 40 professionals 
from Dartmouth's Library and Computing Services departments with these 
objectives in mind: to identify issues in which both organizations are 
stakeholders, to encourage collaboration at all levels of the 
organizations, and to begin long-range planning for joint action.

The day-long retreat included a variety of discussions, brainstorming, 
and goal-setting sessions, as well as break-out group analyses of case 
studies, presentations, and evaluations.  One of the most profitable 
exercises of the day was the introduction of each participant.  Despite 
Dartmouth's relatively small size, a majority of the participants were 
relative strangers to each other prior to the retreat.  Now able to 
associate names with faces, participants have established a better 
understanding of both organizations and a higher degree of empathy for 
the problems and challenges facing each participant.  The day set the 
stage for a continuing effort to create bridges between and within each 
organization and to launch projects with tangible results.

Participants from both organizations are enthusiastic about the 
challenges and opportunities offered by working together and the very 
real potential for successful collaboration.  Motivating these efforts 
is the desire to be partners in a true sense, recognizing that this 
entails mutual risk, mutual gain, and compromise.  Dartmouth's leaders 
and retreat participants believe that they have begun to create the 
strongest of foundations for a mutually beneficial and rewarding 
relationship, one that clearly brings two diverse organizations together 
through synergy and innovation.  Indeed, if the two organizations are to 
be successful, such collaboration is absolutely essential.

For more information about Dartmouth's plans, contact Margaret Otto or 
Larry Levine at Dartmouth College (margaret.otto@dartmouth.edu, and 
larry.levine@dartmouth.edu). For information about the planning 
retreats, contact Susan Jurow at ARL (susan@cni.org).