Prospectus

Expanding the Expect More Conversation:

Creating the Expect More Collaboratory

Purpose: To revise and expand the Expect More conversation, book, tour, and associated digital media into a comprehensive and expanding set of community building resources. These resources will include online learning events for library decision makers, a physical and digital workbook, and an ongoing series of engagements to advocate for greater community focus and involvement in libraries. The Expect More Collaboratory will deliver a multimedia web-based curriculum for use by librarians with boards, principals, provosts, and communities.

Current Expect More Activities: Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries For Today’s Complex World was published in 2012 as a follow-up to the librarian-focus Atlas of New Librarianship. The book and ebook sold more than 2,000 copies before it was released as a free ebook in 2014. The text has been downloaded or accessed over 6,000 times and has been used by librarians, library boards, library science students, and the general public. The book has generated requests for presentations and learning conversations in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Other associated activities include Expect More Library Scholarships offered to Syracuse University Library science students. The Expect More message of community-centered librarianship resonates with librarians and library users alike.

The Ask: Partnering libraries will contribute $3,000, Lead libraries will contribute $6,000[1], and commercial partners will contribute $15,000 toward the development of the Expect More Collaboratory. This contribution will support the creation of digital resources and an expanded Expect More workbook. The site will be at http://www.ExpectMoreLibrary.com (currently the site of the Expect More World Tour) and be a substantial expansion to the Expect More web presence.

Funded Activities: Contributions will be used in:

  1. Planning: The project team will explore how Expect More is currently being used in libraries internationally. The project team will hold feedback sessions in person and online to determine the needed revisions and expansions to Expect More content. Lead libraries will be the basis for specific case studies.
  2. Writing: The team will expand the current Expect More text to include updates, new ideas, and activities (worksheets, instruction for community conversations, online training materials). This expanded effort will include a print, ebook, and audio book version of Expect More as well as the full online curriculum and support system.
  3. Site Building: The current awareness site for Expect More will be expanded to include access to interactive worksheets, online videos for use in staff and board training, and discussion boards for those implementing Expect More.
  4. Ongoing Training: The project team will develop online training courses similar to the New Librarianship MOOC offered in the summer of 2013 and 2014. The course will be asynchronous and mediated by the project team. Lead libraries will be used to test curriculum and materials.

Deliverables: Access to ongoing training sessions for staff and library supporters. 25 copies of the print books plus free access to ebook version for staff, board, and circulation to your served community[2]. The Collaboratory shall operate for at least a year from launch. Continued operations will be decided by the project team and funding organizations libraries.

Timeline: Development of the Expect More Collaboratory will begin when $30,000 in funds have been pledged. At that time the Expect More Collaboratory site will be made available to partners with progress reports on the development and revision of resources. Six months after project start the Expect More Workbook will be made available and current editions withdrawn. One year after project start online courses will be opened.

Ongoing Support: The current version of the Expect More book will be withdrawn from online sources and marketplaces. The new edition will be sold online to non-contributing partners and individuals as a means of supporting ongoing training and project activities. Also videos and courses will be offered for fees to non-contributing libraries and organizations.

Project Team: The current project team represents leading thought in the library field and extensive experience with professional development and advocacy for libraries and librarians. The team works with, and agreements of partners are made with Riland Publications.

David Lankes: Lankes is a professor and Dean’s Scholar for the New Librarianship at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and director of the Information Institute of Syracuse. His book, The Atlas of New Librarianship won the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature. Lankes is a passionate advocate for librarians and their essential role in today’s society.

Lankes will be the primary author of the next version of Expect More and the instructor for the online training materials.

Kathryn Deiss: Deiss is an independent consultant working with all types of libraries. Deiss has worked as a trainer and consultant for over 20 years. She has designed and delivered in-person and online library training events and is faculty for three national leadership programs, the Minnesota Leadership Institute for Early Career Librarians from Underrepresented Groups, the National Library of Medicine/Association of Academic Health Sciences Leadership Fellows Program, and the American Library Association’s Leading to the Future Institute for librarians from all types of libraries; and serves as faculty for some single library institutes. Deiss has presented and published extensively on topics of innovation, change, leadership, and strategy.

Deiss will be instrumental in the development of both the Expect More text and online materials.


 

[1] There will only be four Lead Libraries.

[2] For libraries this includes card holding members, for library organizations it includes served libraries excluding card holders, and for commercial partners this includes customers.