Partnerships for HE in FE the Library Perspective Partnerships For HE in FE Conference - The Library Perspective, University of the West of England Mark Stone Associate Dean, Teaching & Learning, University of Plymouth Colleges [UPC] 26 th November 2010

Working with Librarians  On a journey of worked with Librarians since  starting as a novice user, needing help to guide and encourage others - students and then staff  seeking partnership  offering support  interfering in policy  …some personal thoughts

The service and cost centre debate  Contribution of Library service and expertise needs very clear articulation in a period of extreme scrutiny and total review  Links with information services…. a continuum of integrated provision - with noisy partners, good with numbers  Need advocacy [from within and without], backed by data – plus playing the game… metrics, KPIs…

HE & FE, a mixed economy context  Models and logistics are highly variable  Mixed and specialised roles  Mixed and specialised spaces / facilities  Mixed expectations - local and regional impact  Also working with staff who teach HE and FE in different ways?  Managing the offer and expectations  Time to think and evolve level specific service

Inter-related HE & CPD curriculum  HE programmes including Foundation Degrees, degree, masters and doctoral  CPD programmes or short courses comprising of approved module s [from Colleges or Universities]  CPD programmes or short courses adapted from approved modules  Bespoke CPD programmes or short courses [designed in response to demand or co-designed with a client]  Accredited company / organisation in house training [either as a programme or CPD]  Accredited, commercial training provider CPD provision [mapped to qualifications or with Accreditation of Prior Learning [APL]]

A vision of service or contribution As exemplified in ICT / web based services and tools… the role of Library expertise… as user, intermediary or  needs analysis  specification  design / commission  monitoring use  feedback / adaptation  evaluation - What does Library provision post £9,000 fee look like? - Student / staff digital literacy vs institutional digital literacy… practice and / or policy… thinking about the Library voice

Working across institutional boundaries  Collaboration within an institution  Collaboration across institutional boundaries  UPC - localism vs sector - both are needed  New and evolving relationships with employers and commercial training providers [CPD] - new models of working may be needed, including funding protocols  Communities of Practice – your own and others  Impact on identity

Silos and status  Based on experience of….  HR  HELP CETL  UPC  Academic, technical, professional and support = HR designed and institutionalised rubbish  What we need is single status, multi skilled teams with staff working in changing hybrid roles…fantasy football university  However this culture change is not coming from the top anytime soon

Librarians are doing it for themselves  Be proactive, stick your foot in the door more - interfere and deliver value in an anticipative way that is research informed So what does this look and sound like...  Seek invitations  Offer  Ask  Request  Lead  Assume e.g. attend….. …power and permission