Unit 4, Assignment: The Second Meeting

1. Confirm your second meeting a few days in advance, providing copies of your focus sheets with this email confirmation. If you cannot meet in person, make sure they have documents that can be edited by both of you. Let them know that you have begun identifying some ideas for collaboration and that you would like to review them with the goal of narrowing down to one for your initial collaboration and partnership. Example:

I look forward to meeting on date/time/location. I've reviewed my notes and research and have identified some potential areas of focus for us to discuss during our meeting. I've created two (or three) planning documents that I'd like to review with you. My goal is to work with you to identify one of these as our first area of focus and to begin identifying how we might work together to develop a plan for action.

2. Consider your previous learning with perceptual positions and norms of collaboration. Think about how you can use these strategies to effectively listen, question, clarify, and find consensus in the meeting.

3. Begin your meeting by reviewing each of the focus sheets and asking the administrator for feedback and clarification. Some questions to consider:

• Does the title effectively describe the need/challenge?

• Are the specific examples of the challenge accurate? Are there others that should be included?

• Which focus area stands out as being most important, compelling, or pressing?

• Seek agreement on one of the focus areas/sheets. Set aside the others with a recognition that these can be reviewed and considered in the future.

4. Looking at the one focus sheet/area which you've selected, discuss and add to the two areas that speak to librarian/library program supports:

• If necessary, explain to your administrator what these mean, providing additional details. You know your program and what you do, but they may not -- this is an opportunity to educate them!

• If you have identified areas that might require additional support or resources, explain why these are necessary. Recognize that due to time, resource, or capacity limitations, your administrator may not be in a position to make these happen. Try to focus on cost-neutral solutions for now.

5. As a last step, begin thinking about the what, who, when, and where considerations necessary to continue the planning process. A simple organizer is included at the end of the focus sheet. You can use this or work from your shared notes.

6. Depending on your conversations and circumstances, you may need an additional meeting or discussion before you can narrow your focus and get your work underway. It is likely that additional colleagues or partners might need to meet with you to continue your planning or implementation.

7. After your meeting, follow up with a short email to your administrator thanking them for their time and interest in collaboration. If you've agreed on specific next steps such as another meeting or to engage others in planning and implementation, include those to ensure you can keep the work and conversation going.