Scholarly Commons: Leadership and Coordination
The Scholarly Commons Leadership Team Report and Recommendations (October 3, 2008)
proposed a framework for collaborating with partners, within the library and on campus, to provide a
rich array of front-line scholarly services. The Scholarly Commons will provide a physical and
virtual environment for navigating a diverse set of services at the nexus of scholarship and emerging
technologies.
This document outlines an approach to coordinating these services that addresses some of the
challenges inherent in providing a suite of services in collaboration with internal and external
partners. A Coordinator is supported by leads in programmatic areas who are appointed using a
matrix approach (task focused, flexible and distributed). This model leverages existing expertise for
the Scholarly Commons initiative; secures a sense of ownership toward scholarly services throughout
the Library; and creates a nimble and inclusive leadership structure.
Scholarly Commons Coordinator
The Scholarly Commons Coordinator has responsibility for coordinating the activities of the leads
for programmatic areas (see below). Reporting to the University Librarian, the Scholarly Commons
Coordinator works closely with the Associate University Librarians and the Coordinator, New
Service Model Programs on short- and long- term planning and development of the Scholarly
Commons programs, and may also serve as a lead in one of the specific programmatic areas,
described below.
Leads for Programmatic Areas
Leads will be responsible for coordinating with all internal and external partners in key
programmatic areas. Proposed programmatic areas are listed below. Programs ready for first-round
implementation in the Scholarly Commons and with confirmed Leads are denoted by **.
Programmatic
Area
Data Services and
GIS**
Lead
Internal partners
Scholarly
Communications &
Digital Publishing**
Research Support
Services and
Workshops**
eLearning
Sarah
Shreeves
IDEALS
Merinda
Hensley
Central Reference
(Savvy Researcher)
Graduate College
User Education
Committee
CITES EdTech,
Center for
Teaching
Excellence
Karen
Hogenboom
External
partners
ATLAS
Working Group
or Taskforce
Data Services
Task Force
(members from
Library and
ATLAS)
Scholarly
Communications
Committee
User Education
Committee
Digital Arts &
Humanities
Visual Resources
and Media
Scholarly
Community
Building
eScience and
eScholarship
Bill Mischo
Digital Content
Creation, Arts &
Humanities Division,
Special Collections
Division
Visual Resources
Working Group
Web Technologies &
Content
Coordination
Grainger
CHASS, I3
I3
For programmatic areas not launched in Fall 2009, the lead will identify and cultivate partners, scope
a service profile and prepare to launch an active service at a later date. Proposals for new
programmatic areas will be considered by the Scholarly Common Coordinating Committee,
and a call for proposals will be issued every spring.
Leads are given an additional title (e.g., Data Services and GIS Lead) and expected to devote a set
amount of their time (10-25% time, to be negotiated) to these duties. Leads will be responsible for:
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identifying campus partners, as well as units and individuals within the library, with the
potential to contribute to the Scholarly Commons in their designated area;
defining the scope of services within their designated area, in consultation with the
Coordinator;
collaborating with the campus and internal partners to develop and assess service programs
liaising actively with internal and external partners (maintaining routine communications,
participating in relevant campus program and interest groups) ;
monitoring emerging developments in the area, locally and nationally;
participating in outreach projects and marketing;
contributing to or establishing a model for a walk-in and/or referral service in their area;
chairing the Scholarly Commons Coordinating Committee
Scholarly Commons Coordinating Committee
Comprised of the leads in programmatic areas, this Committee works collaboratively to develop and
assess the overall Scholarly Commons service program, evaluate requests for launching new
programmatic areas, and develop outreach and marketing programs.
Other Leadership and Advisory Groups
Representatives from campus partners, internal partners, will be convened once each semester to
meet with the programmatic leads as the Scholarly Commons Council. This group will plan an
annual information fair showcasing scholarly services across campus.
Scholarly Commons Advisory Committee – A small group of students and faculty from a range of
disciplines to be convened once a semester in order to advise the Coordinator on the evolving needs
of scholars and serve as a forum for the discussion of existing and planned services initiatives.