
Building an interconnected library of the social sciences
15-07-2024
Christopher Landes is Director of the library at the Hertie School and has been working closely with the libraries of the ten CIVICA partner universities to create a “European Library of the Social Sciences”.
He tells us more about what CIVICA libraries are working on, and how he benefitted from collaborating with colleagues around Europe.
Christopher, you were recently at Central European University in Vienna to meet with librarians from around the CIVICA network. Could you tell us about what you are currently working on?
Library cooperation with CIVICA involves a wide range of topics and a large group of people. At the meeting in Vienna, the Library Steering Committee met for an update on the progress of the different working groups and to discuss further strategic issues.
One of the main goals of the cooperation is to explore the possibility of joint licensing of electronic resources. Sciences Po is conducting a feasibility study, which they gave a presentation on in Vienna.
Other working groups are looking at the information literacy skills of CIVICA students and how to meet the literature needs of our community. It is quite complicated to coordinate a cross-campus course and make it technically and legally feasible for students from ten different institutions to read the same content.
Another focus is the visibility of research publications. We are discussing how to better present our Open Access collections. In general, Open Access publishing and, more generally, Open Science practices are one of the guiding concepts of the CIVICA library network. We strive to facilitate access to literature and research results.
In short, there is a lot going on in the CIVICA library world!
You lead the collaboration between CIVICA universities on “Open Educational Resources (OER)” Could you explain to us what OER are, and why the topic is important?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are any kind of teaching, learning and research materials, such as textbooks, case studies, worksheets or videos, that are openly accessible and can be used, adapted or redistributed by anyone for free, with no or limited restrictions.
The OER approach fits into the broader idea of Open Science mentioned above. The concept aims to make higher education more accessible and participatory by implementing the open and free practices of sharing, collaborating and publishing.
Another important reason to get involved in the development and promotion of OER is the huge increase in the price of textbooks, which either students or libraries must pay. While the creation of OER may not be free per se, there are significant benefits for students and teachers. Not only can they access learning materials easily and freely, but they can also reuse them and adapt them to their specific needs.
You have recently organized OER training for CIVICA librarians. What have you learnt?
Our recent training session on OER was facilitated by Paola Corti, an OER expert from SPARC Europe. SPARC Europe is an organisation dedicated to promoting Open Science practices.
We focused on two objectives. One was to learn the basics and deepen our understanding of what OER are compared to traditional textbooks. We explored different repositories and platforms that provide access to high-quality OER materials. We looked at the different types of licenses that apply to OER and learned how to correctly identify and use these materials while respecting intellectual property rights.
Our second objective was to establish a CIVICA network of OER contact points. This network will, for example, facilitate the exchange of best practices on OER.
We have already planned our next workshop for the autumn, which will build on this foundation. We hope that this initiative will be a step forward in our commitment to integrating OER into our educational practices.
What are some of the barriers you face in CIVICA libraries?
In the beginning, it was difficult to connect because the projects started during the pandemic. It became clear that local meetings were crucial to progress, as it can take time to collaborate effectively across institutional and technical boundaries.
The different capacities of institutions within the network pose a further challenge in terms of matching resources and skills. Different levels of commitment and prioritisation among member libraries can affect the speed and efficiency of collaborative efforts.
We started by gathering data and exploring how to move forward - I have never responded to so many surveys on library-related issues! Now I think we have reached a point where we try to do what is feasible and focus on tasks and projects that all or most institutions can benefit from.
However, it is a continuous learning process. I believe we can overcome barriers and advance our common goals within the CIVICA network by sharing best practices and cultivating a spirit of cooperation.
Has the participation in the CIVICA alliance had any impact on the work of the library at the Hertie School?
Being part of this international network has opened up numerous opportunities for professional development and sharing ideas that have enhanced our library services.
For example, our approach to research data management (RDM) has benefitted greatly from working with CIVICA. The sharing of expertise has taken our RDM practices to a level that we might not have achieved on our own. We now have our own RDM policy, services and support for our researchers on the question of how to deal with their research data.
Participation in CIVICA has also brought direct financial benefits. We have received funding that has enabled us to create a new post within our team, thereby increasing our capacity to support our academic community.
One of the most positive aspects has been the opportunity to learn from our colleagues across the CIVICA network. Sharing best practice and visiting different libraries during conferences and as part of the staff mobility programme, has provided invaluable insights to the participating librarians.
Personally, how have you benefitted from being involved in the CIVICA network?
Personally, I have benefitted a lot from the CIVICA network. The opportunity to meet and collaborate with international colleagues is a great experience. I am truly a European and being part of CIVICA has integrated this into my professional life.
One of the most exciting aspects of this involvement has been the opportunity to work internationally on emerging issues such as Open Educational Resources and Open Research Data Management.
Could you please share your vision for the CIVICA library in ten years?
My vision for the CIVICA library is one of continued professionalisation, collaboration and excellence. CIVICA aspires to be the leading European social science university and I believe that our libraries, as the heart of any university, will play a crucial role in achieving this vision.
In the coming decade, I hope we can secure additional funding to expand our capacity and resources. This will enable us to better support teaching staff, offer information literacy courses and to provide our users with access to all member libraries, including to their research and teaching materials. By sharing resources and expertise, we can contribute to an integrated international campus experience for all CIVICA students and faculty.
Photo credits: CEU.