Following the TRAIL: Gift-Cultures and Collaborative Efforts for the Library Community

Abstract

This session will examine the development of the Technical Report Archive & Image Library (TRAIL) and its current meta-community. Participants in the Greater Western Library Alliance's (GWLA) TRAIL project have developed a model for complex collaborations that includes both 1) shared management for physical collections; and 2) shared large-scale digital conversion processes. The model supports achieving a shared vision, regardless of the number of participants, geographic location, collection scope, or member assets and is accomplished through the recognition and use of learning organization techniques, social capital and gift-culture principles. The session will cover the structure that has been developed to address geographic barriers and workflow issues for this massive digitizing project. Discussion will also include how the structure offers institutions a flexible, short-term way to participate in a digitizing project, without breaking the bank or investing in additional computer systems. Audience participation and feedback on the model will be encouraged.