A Case Study in Collaboration: Assessing Academic Librarian/Faculty Partnerships

Abstract

Undergraduates attending The George Washington University are required to take courses in the University Writing Program. When it was introduced in 2004, this innovative program institutionalized collaboration between librarians and writing professors. The program was designed to support the university’s strategic goal to enhance challenge, discovery, and quality in student education. Beginning in 2005, instruction librarians crafted a survey to elicit anonymous feedback from their faculty partners to measure the impact of the library partnership on student learning. The survey is administered annually to explore faculty perceptions and monitor trends. Responses to the survey identify significant strengths resulting from this collaboration as well as specific topics needing further attention.

Developing a Digital Voice: Embedding Digital Communication Platforms, Networks, and Technologies in the 21st-Century Classroom

“…The massive amount of digital information and the complexity of Internet search tools and platforms pose a serious challenge to students as they strive to find reliable evidence from credible sources for their speeches. However, building partnerships with campus and community libraries can teach students how to navigate the world of information and develop responsible practices for conducting academic research (Carpan, 2011;Gaspar & Wetzel, 2009). Library partnerships are important not only for developing speeches during the course, but also serve students' long-term educational goals by enabling them to continue to conduct quality research after the class is over.…”

Librarians’ Attitudes towards Collaboration with Faculty Members at Six PublicUniversities in Jordan : A Survey = اتجاهات المكتبيين نحو التعاون مع أعضاء هيئة التدريس في ست جامعات رسمية في الأردن : دراسة مسحية

“…The study found that 91% of the librarians questioned think that user education raises the profile of the librarian. Gaspar and Wetzel (2009) carried a case study in collaboration to assess academic librarian/faculty partnerships. The study intended to measure the impact of the library partnership on undergraduate student learning at the George Washington University.…”