The benefits of cross-institutional collaboration

Abstract

This presentation discusses inter-institutional collaboration in the Higher Education sector in Ireland with a particular focus on academic library collaborative initiatives and networks. It begins by asking ‘what is collaboration’? and where collaboration sits within a continuum of partnership. It highlights that true collaboration requires invested parties to relinquish a certain degree of autonomy in order to achieve a common goal. Key collaborative networks and initiatives within the sector are listed with a particular focus on the history of collaboration between academic libraries. Collaboration between private higher education institutions is discussed with particular emphasis on perceived barriers and changes that are bringing about increased collaboration. Cooperative and collaborative exchanges between DBS and NCI are also discussed as well as opportunities for future collaborative projects .