Professional Networking

What is LIBRAS Knowledge Exchange?

LIBRAS Knowledge Exchanges (LKE) are professional development and networking events for LIBRAS library staff members of all levels to visit other consortium libraries. The LIBRAS Knowledge Exchange hopes to:

Enable librarians and professional staff members to learn from colleagues at peer institutions
Foster stronger relationships between LIBRAS libraries

As part of the “Knowledge Exchange” visits, library staff members will have an opportunity to tour each host library and ask questions about its operations and services. Five points of pride for the host library could be the initial focus of the discussion but then the format is can be more informal.

As time allows, attendees will also be able to meet in a forum or roundtable format to ask follow-up questions or share observations about similarities or differences in their own library experiences. These discussions are to be a time of sharing successes, failures, upcoming initiatives, puzzling challenges, and works-in-progress to glean feedback, insight, and encouragement from the collective wisdom within the room.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to develop community over a shared meal. As funds allow, lunch will be provided by LIBRAS and catered by one of the hosting institutions.

Who is LIBRAS Knowledge Exchange for?

Attendees will include librarians, LTAs, or other professional staff from LIBRAS libraries who have a desire to learn from colleagues at other LIBRAS institutions. The director at each host institution will offer a welcome, but the tour and subsequent discussions will be exclusive to staff members.

When and where are these events?

Scheduling will be dependent upon availability for LIBRAS libraries, but the suggested hope for this program is for events to occur 3-5 times per year: at least once—if possible twice—per semester, and once in tandem with the summer annual meeting.

Events will aim to highlight two libraries within a reasonable driving proximity. Pairings will be based on availability of LIBRAS members who respond to an annual request for host institutions.

How can I participate?

If you are a LIBRAS member library and interested in hosting a LIBRAS Knowledge Exchange, contact the LIBRAS President-Elect for more information.

Special Interest Groups

Special interest groups (SIGs) may be formed as vehicles for networking and continuing education. If interested in joining a SIG, contact the SIG Chair. If interested in starting a new SIG, contact the LIBRAS President.

Directors SIG

Meets regularly. Open to all library directors, including acting and interim directors, at LIBRAS institutions. Contact SIG Chair: Matthew Ostercamp (mjostercamp@northpark.edu).

Open Educational Resources SIG

Focuses on topics concerning open educational resources (OER) and how they could be integrated within our institutions to address issues of affordability, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. Open to all staff at LIBRAS institutions. Contact SIG Co-Chairs: Kim Hale (khale@colum.edu) or Jacob Hill (jacobh@elmhurst.edu)

Emerging Trends and Technologies SIG (Formerly: Post-Pandemic New New Normal)

Focuses on topics chosen by the SIG members such as ChatGPT, student mental health and staffing issues. Meets monthly via Zoom and is open to all staff at LIBRAS institutions. Contact SIG Chair: Nichole Novak (nnovak2@iit.edu)

Technical Services SIG

Focuses on Alma-related topics and other tasks, including electronic resources, metadata, serials, and analytics. Meets regularly. Open to all technical services staff at LIBRAS institutions. Contact SIG Chair: Megan Ruenz (megan.ruenz@wheaton.edu)