Reimagining the 
Virtual Librarian Program:
A Dissection into three parts
a project overview with
Shelly Drumm
michelle@drumm.info
What you asked for:
What you need:
The Virtual Librarian Program at HCC, circa 2004
Embedded librarian program
Canned content
A victim of its own success
$$ running out end of 2005
Program originator flying the coop

RIP VL Program! 
HCC Central College
Northwest College
Northeast College
Southwest College
Southeast College
30ish professional staff
Around 100 full timers total
Distributed collective leadership
50,000 students 
8,000+ online
Army of adjunct faculty
Technologically forward. Pragmatic.
Collaborative.
Experimental & Phased
Blog: m-w.com's word of the year for 2004
Sustainable
Easy
If we build it, would they come?
Probably not. 
Not without pizza.
Phase I
Small pilot Summer I, 2005
Free tools also mean that 
great successes are cheap
Feedback from faculty on effectiveness of new method:
Okay, but could be bettter
Could be more "in your face"
Resources
a tech savvy team
Less money
enthusiastic support of DLS
great relationships
The Assessment
Challenges
Lukewarm support from leadership
Which meant no non-human resources
The Learning Web
Little time
The Problem
A successful program
The General Idea
Not resource intensive
Use existing Learning Web Blogware
1-3 Staff
Makes use of existing VL material
One-to-many communication
Sustainable
 
Easily transferable
The technology wouldn't disappear
One Catch....
Easily extensible
A breeze to add new content
Allows different kinds of content
Low cost. Low effort.
We needed to get inside
The Approach
And to do that...
We needed these guys.
Gorilla librarianship
Feedback from faculty on effectiveness of new method:
Great!
And they're using more RSS tech because of it
Wished there was a way to talk to a librarian
Experimentation and play
Mistakes are cheap
Huge successes are cheap, too
Phase II
Reworked, Summer II, 2005
Feedback consistently strong, plus:
Improved library visibility through workshops
Built more and stronger relationships between librarians and teaching faculty
Faculty felt students were finding better resources because of it
Phase III
The Big Rollout, Fall 2005
Guerrilla
Could change over time
Planning and Organization
Assess Problem
Map potential solutions to timeline, resources
Work with team to find solution most likely to succeed
Make it happen
Capitalized on strong existing relationships with faculty
Countless one on one meetings
Work solidly and collaboratively with team
Regular communication with DLS on progress
Communication
Found tech forward solution
Explored new technology (Plone) to make it happen
Technology 
Planning and Organization
Implement new technology
Reassess timeline and requirements for full rollout in Fall 2005
Explored new relationships to get self-hosted WP install
Make it happen
Prepared for larger rollout
Capitalized on strong existing relationships
Utilized all campus media and centers to get the word out
Communication
Evaluated existing tech in relation to faculty feedback
Implemented different blogware solution (wordpress.com) to explore new options
Expanded tech flexibility using Feed2JS
Technology 
Planning and Organization
Get solution/tech in place
Anticipate and prepare for need for faculty outreach
Collaborate with faculty development centers system-wide and with larger DLS team to plan events at all campuses
Train DLS trainers
Make it happen
Capitalized on strong existing relationships
Through marketing, meetings, and general schmoozing, built a strong network of new library advocates
Kept DLS and Library staff in the loop
Communication
Finagled spare server for self-hosted WP server
Built new site including custom CSS and PHP work for HCC-esque theme
Built and distributed widgets and screencasts via Learning Web and new site
Technology 
Feedback consistently strong, plus:
Added embedded chat to LibLine, launched full scale chat ref
Still in place and successful
Moved to library-servers during 2nd full semester, indicating library leadership support and buy-in
Jenn's still involved, and some tech-willing folks helping out
Phase IV
Care and Feeding
I even went to Hawaii for this project. Seriously - don't doubt my dedication.
In short? Herded hundreds of cats.
But first, some context
Technology
Communication
Planning &
Organization
Harnessed emerging trends
in a practical, useful way
Mastery of CSS allowed us to use the right tool
Understanding of how primary stakeholders used technology ensured success
Project success relied on buy-in from diverse stakeholders
Strong working relationships with primary faculty influencers made that possible
Ability to communicate project goals and desired outcomes to immediate team 
Eventual success in swaying library leadership through demonstrated success
Worked with 5 colleges, 12 campuses, hundreds of actively involved faculty
Coordinated with 5 Curriculum Innovation Centers and System-wide  Instructional Media Center
Coordinated a strong, central team of 3
Coordinated larger training team of 6 or 7
Thanks! Questions?
"System" or Tech Services