Librarians as Part of Cross-Disciplinary, Multi-institutional Team Projects: Experiences from the VIVO Collaboration

Abstract

Cross-disciplinary, team-based collaboration is essential for addressing today's complex research questions, and librarians are increasingly entering into such collaborations. This study identifies skills needed as librarians integrate into cross-disciplinary teams, based on the experiences of librarians involved in the development and implementation of VIVO, a research discovery and collaboration platform. Participants discussed the challenges, skills gained, and lessons learned throughout the project. Their responses were analyzed in the light of the science of team science literature, and factors affecting collaboration on the VIVO team were identified. Skills in inclusive thinking, communication, perseverance, adaptability, and leadership were found to be essential.

Keywords:

• collaboration
• team science
• interdisciplinary

Notes

© Rolando García-Milian, Hannah F. Norton, Beth Auten, Valrie I. Davis, Kristi L. Holmes, Margeaux Johnson and Michele R. Tennant

This project was made possible through funding from the NIH: “VIVO-Enabling National Networking of Scientists” National Institutes of Health, U24 RR029822.

This paper is based in part on talks presented at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, June 13, 2011 and the Medical Library Association Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington, May 20, 2012.