COLLABORATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN
MUNPARLAS: BASIS FOR A CONSORTIUM
PROGRAM
Melquaides I. Alipo-on, MALS
Library Director, Olivarez College
President, MUNPARLAS Library Association, Inc.
Introduction
MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc. is a non-stock and non-profit Library
organization in Muntinlupa,
Parañaque and Las Piñas.
According to Henry Ford (1947) Coming
together is a beginning; keeping together is
progress; working together is success.”
Murray (2010)
Collaboration is the act of
willingness to cooperate
with one another in one
common goal .
Collaboration must undertake
the following:
•well defined relationships
•beneficial to all members
•comprehensive planning
•mutual risk
•resource sharing
Collaborative relationship includes:
•commitment to a mission
•clearly defined roles and responsibilities
•shared responsibility
•balanced ownership
•distributed leadership
•sharing of resources and rewards
Factors that help
collaboration:
•needs and benefits
•attitude
•Communication
•vision, mission, goals
•Resources
•leadership
Successful collaboration
requires that Library
leaders understand their
organizations in order to
ensure a positive
response from staff to
the necessary
organizational change
Change can be implemented
successfully only with
significant awareness of and
sensitivity to
existing culture
Positive attitudes toward the
collaborative effort and the
associated organizational change,
can best be generated by beginning
with a inclusive exercise to
articulate vision and mission and to
establish goals
Library leaders must be sensitive to
prevailing and evolving attitudes
among library staff . One
or more sessions with a credible
and respected facilitator may prove
necessary to develop or
maintain a positive attitude among
library staff.
Consortium - a group of school librarians in
MUNPARLAS joining and cooperating together to
complete a project and working together with a
contract to perform a unified goal to improve
library services.
Theoretical Framework:
This study is anchored on the
Game Theory of Von Neumann.
The structure of cooperation is an
important area to which game
theory is applied.
Hayes (2003) uses cooperative
game theory to explain decisionmaking behaviors using
cooperative acquisitions and
cooperation in automation as
examples.
Bridges (2004) proposes the
application of game theory
to decision-making.
Chua (2003) uses game theory
framework to explain knowledge
management and information
science.
Cohen (2008) look at game theory
as applied to library networks.
Research Paradigm
INPUT
•Selected School
Libraries in
MUNPARLAS
•Library Personnel
•Library Services
•Library Resources
•Benefits
•Barriers
PROCESS
•Library needs
•Role of
MUNPARLAS
Library Association
•Game Theory
•Phenomenological
Inquiry
OUTPUT
Consortium
Program
Statement of the Problem
This study aimed to collaborate with the school
libraries in MUNPARLAS to come up with a functional
consortium program.
Specifically, this study sought to answer the following
problems:
1. What is the library profile of the selected schools
with respect to the following:
a. personnel;
b. services; and
c. resources?
2. What benefits do member institutions get on this
proposed consortium?
3. What are the barriers in the pursuing library
consortium?
4. Based on the findings of the study, what are the
policies and programs of the consortium that can be
proposed?
Research Design
A qualitative research method would
be more suitable that the participants
would be able to articulate their live
experiences using not only words but
non-verbal expressions as well.
According to Pietersen
(2002) the aim of the
approach is to determine
what an experience means
for those who have had the
experience and are able to
provide a comprehensive
description of it.
In phenomenology, a
researcher looks into
the participants’
various reactions to, or
perceptions of, a
particular
phenomenon.
Participants
There were six school
signified to participate as
subjects of the study. For
confidentially
reasons,
the subjects of the study
requested the researcher
to make codes instead of
mentioning
their
institutions for ethical
reasons.
Data Gathering
Procedure
The researcher started
with his conceptual
framework which serves as
a roadmap throughout the
research journey.
The most crucial part of this study was
transcribing the result, the triangulation,
the focus group interview, open ended
questions and observation.
Significant Findings
In six libraries, there were 15
professional librarians working, 9
library assistants, and 5 computer
technicians. Most of them worked
as permanent employees. It is
empirical that the MUNPARLAS
Library Association Inc. school
libraries are managed by
professional librarians assisted by
well trained library staff.
The most common library services
on these six libraries were Library
Orientation (6), Photocopy (6),
Internet Access (6), Technical
Services (6), Bulletin Boards (6),
Storytelling (6), Printing Services
(6), Book Lovers Club (6), Current
Awareness (5), Ask the Librarian
(4), 24/7 Electronic Resources (4),
OPAC (4), Library Instruction (3),
Automated Circulation (3), WIFI
Spots (3), Book Character (2),
Book Parade (2), Pathfinder (1),
Book Shoot (1), Book Mobile (1),
and Book Talk (1). Four of these
libraries were using canned library
system: destiny, libro sytem,
athena and follett. Most of them
were subscribing to celogic
electronic journals, proquest, and
Britanica Online. With their
existing library personnel, library
services and library resources
they signified to support the
proposed consortium for the
MUNPARLAS school libraries.
Herewith were the summary of
the
information
resources
available in these six libraries:
books, periodicals, non-print
materials,
and
electronic
resources. Aside from the
traditional interlibrary loan, it is
empirical that they wanted to
build a union list of their library
holdings and share expenses on
their electronic subscriptions.
There
was
corroboration
between MUNPARLAS and
electronic resources company to
possibly join their account.
It was a unanimous decision of the six libraries to
acknowledge the barriers but do not dwell on them. Some
of the barriers foreseen are miscommunication problems,
Internet Access ID necessary in electronic resources,
some customers not accepting e-journals as per the
printed journals, financial, technology literacy, data
conversion, routine maintenance, and reluctance to
participate.
MUNPARLAS
Library
Association
Inc.
member
institutions expressed their
willingness to support this
project.
They
find
the
consortium program very
beneficial. Most of these
schools were subscribing to
almost the same e-journals.
With the consortium-based
subscription to electronic
resources, it provides access
to wider number of electronic
resources at substantially
lower cost. They likewise
expressed that this will
optimize utilization of funds.
Some schools mentioned that
this will lessen their technical
works and improve their
library services.
Conclusions
This study justifies the establishment of
consortium program in MUNPARLAS Library
Association Inc. which automatically will bring
economy, efficiency and equality in information
available in the school libraries. This proposal is
expected to trigger remarkable development in the
school
libraries
in
MUNPARLAS
Library
Association Inc. Proposed consortium would bring
a special attention to its members for its
systematic approach and will ensure a sustainable
growth of the school libraries.
This will save
enormous amount of money and expedite research
at all levels thereby contributing greatly in library
development.
Recommendations
There is a need to evaluate
the strengths and weaknesses
of the library personnel, library
services
and
information
resources in order to formulate
a
functional
consortium
program.
Aside
from
traditional
interlibrary
loan,
technology
services like sharing of
databases
and
electronic
resources
should be given priority
in
the
consortium
program.
There is a need to motivate the library personnel
that the technology-driven cooperative
arrangements will help lessen their professional
and technical job
Organize training
for
MUNPARLAS
Library
Association
Inc.
librarians
on
databases,
and
eresources. Instill in
them
that
sharing
resources
means
sharing success.
The proponent of the study
recommends that all of the
recommendations stated will be
materialized in three years time
after a rigid planning.
Invite
school
administrators
to
the
meeting of MUNPARLAS
Library Association Inc. for
them to deeply understand
the benefits they can get
from the consortium.
PROPOSED CONSORTIUM PROGRAM
DEFINITION
MUNPARLAS Consortium is a group of school
libraries in Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Paranaque
who come together to fulfill a combined objectives
that requires cooperation and sharing of resources.
The consortium needs a clear mutual goal, support
and commitment among member institutions in
order to ensure success.
SHARED VISION
The vision of the MUNPARLAS Consortium is to
use and to develop the best enabling technologies in
a collaboration that will enhance the innovative
delivery of library and information resources to the
school libraries in the member institutions.
OBJECTIVES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To lessen subscription expenses on electronic resources;
To provide a common interface with familiar functionality for the benefit of
library customers;
To widen the scope of electronic resources available on group subscription;
To maximize the value of the intellectual investment involved in selecting
and implementing the shared system and in creating and operating a
management structure for the benefit of the members institutions;
To create a union list of library holdings;
To form a technology-driven consortium;
To be an efficient instrument of resource sharing in all types of resources;
and
To form a strong core group to work in partnership on resource sharing and
library cooperation.
COLLABORATION AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS
While formal relationships provide a framework, they are
necessary but not sufficient to fully realize the vision of the
consortium. Based on this shared vision the members of the
consortium have also developed effective forms of
collaboration, with very significant commitment and
investment of resources. Associated with this, a constellation
of trusted relationships are being nurtured within the
consortium, expressed in principles for relationships, and
put
into
practice
through
members
sharing
infrastructure, sharing workload, and sharing knowledge and
expertise.
PRINCIPLES FOR RELATIONSHIPS
The vital importance of close working relationships is also reflected
in the principles agreed to create, encourage and
grow relationships in the consortium. These principles are:
Value the goals of its member libraries
•While remaining autonomous, members will collaborate to
maximize the benefits they can get from the consortium.
Recognize and acknowledge common good contributions
•Access to the combined resources of the consortium
has benefit for all member institutions, their libraries and
customers.
Favor open communication, with “no surprises” on material issues
•Any issues or disagreements are aired within the consortium rather
than outside, to develop trust and confidence among member
institutions.
Treat its members as equal partners within the consortium
•Characterized by democratic decision-making processes, governance
and equitable cost sharing methods.
Provide opportunities for shared problem solving among
librarians
•Conduct consultation, meetings and fora to discuss problems
encountered.
Foster a climate of responsible experimentation of effective library
service
•Encourage librarians to redefine
current practices in line with changing needs and employ cooperative actions for effective and efficient service.
SHARING INFRASTRUCTURE
The
advantages
of
sharing
infrastructure
include
economic benefits. A consortium is in a stronger position than
individual customers to negotiate favorable contracts with software
vendors,
and
has
a
stronger
voice
in
negotiating
fixes and enhancements. Consortium hosting charges have economies of
scale
that
are
spread
across
all
consortium
members.
Similarly
capital
costs
for
infrastructure
growth
and enhancement can be spread over time and shared by the member
institutions.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE
Working together is an effective way for the librarians to work,
learn, and develop knowledge and expertise. They develop their working
relationships
with
librarians
of
other
institutions.
They
establish communication both formally and informally with their
colleagues in other institution.
SHARING WORKLOAD
Working in a consortium shares the workload, as well as sharing
knowledge and expertise.
FUNCTIONS OF CONSORTIUM
•With little initiative these can be developed into effective platforms for
sharing valuable resources in school libraries
•Besides resource sharing, this consortium can also take up several
activities for the mutual benefit of the member institutions of
MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc.
INFORMATION RESOURCE SHARING FUNCTIONS
A consortium can take up following activities for promoting
information resource sharing:
•Cooperative collection development among member institutions of
MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc.;
•Cooperative processing of information resources acquired through
consortium;
•Creation of virtual library covering all the e-resources available in
member institutions of MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc.;
•Compilation of bibliographical and /or full-text databases of the
holdings of the member institutions of MUNPARLAS Library
Association Inc.;
•Sharing of information resources, both traditional and digital of
member institutions of MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc. through
network or document delivery service;
•Allowing reciprocal borrowing of resources by the member
institutions of MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc.;
•Pooling of expert manpower and promoting professional
development;
•Assist member institutions of MUNPARLAS Library Association Inc.
in creating IT infrastructure;
Madamu gid nga Salamat!