Teaching “between”: Reflections on learning inter-organizational collaboration

Issue title: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning in Library and Information Science

Guest editors: Tatjana Aparac-Jelušić and Serap Kurbanoglu

Article type: Research Article

Authors: McDowell, Kate

Affiliations: School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 501 E. Daniel Street Champaign, IL 61820, USA E-mail: kmcdowel@illinois.edu This submission is a short piece on ‘‘pedagogical innovations and applied practice’’ to be considered for the special issue on Innovative approaches in LIS education.

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: School of Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 501 E. Daniel Street Champaign, IL 61820, USA. E-mail: kmcdowel@illinois.edu.

Abstract: How can we teach inter-organizational collaboration? Reflecting on series of experimental library and information science courses taught from 2011–2015, the Youth Services Community Engagement courses grew out of an IMLS-funded grant focused on innovative services to youth. The course required service-learning experiences in organizations other than libraries; preparing students for effective youth advocacy through inter-organizational collaboration emerged as a learning outcome. Reflections on the iterative design of this service-learning approach working between libraries and community organizations explore how student input influenced course development, including learning outcomes. This reflection highlights the need for more research in library and information science (LIS) on connections and disconnections between public libraries and community organizations.

Keywords: Inter-organizational collaboration, service learning, youth services, public libraries

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-180239

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 149-153, 2019