UCDLFx 2019

Library projects involve diverse stakeholders, knowledge bases and technical ecosystems. Successfully managing these initiatives requires developing unique project collaboration models, techniques and processes. As a group we will discuss some of the projects we are working on and the methods we are using to effectively support our groups, facilitate participation and engagement, and practice flexibility and adaptiveness.


The panel will present short overviews of their projects with some examples of successful strategies and tools we are using. We will open the floor to discussion for feedback, talk about examples, pros and cons of the different approaches and use cases from the audience.

Funding bodies, campus initiatives, and professional associations have recently placed an increasing importance on training as a way to help researchers, librarians and staff better engage with the expanding array of tools, research techniques, and vast amounts of data.  The objective of many of these training programs is to improve the skills of researchers, librarians and staff in working with data.  But how do we do this effectively in a way that promotes inclusivity? The Carpentries is an open, global community teaching researchers the skills to turn data into knowledge using evidence-based teaching practices. This session provides an overview of the inclusive pedagogy and teaching practices the Carpentries uses to create, teach and improve on their workshops.  Specifically, we will cover how the Carpentries create a welcoming and supportive environment for all people regardless of background or identity. How we design our workshops with a focus on instilling a ‘growth mindset’, so learners can gain confidence in their abilities to continue learning. Finally, we'll cover some teaching practices and tips we use in our workshops that we’ve found effective in teaching technical topics to novices.

There comes a time when somebody finally says it out loud: “This isn’t working anymore.” Of course, everyone knew it a long time ago. But there’s a sigh and it feels like the room isn’t quite so claustrophobic anymore: the truth is out. But that breath of fresh air doesn’t last long, soon we’re tossed about by gusting winds of competing interests, confusion, and general instability. Everything is chaotic and unstable, and again, most people are unhappy. Quick: Take action and get back to work! In my talk, I will use a case study about the UCLA Digital Library to demonstrate effective methods to let things get uncomfortable to take your team to a higher level of functioning so that it can take on bigger challenges.


At the UCLA Library, I have overseen the process of selecting a new digital library system and beginning its implementation. This talk will outline the organizational methods I used to ensure a productive and empowering process so that the Library ended up with a better digital library as well as a more effective digital library team.