The document discusses challenges and opportunities for collaboration between a college library and writing center. It describes how they have started to work together through shared instruction sessions and cross-training of staff. However, barriers like budgets, organizational structures, and perceptions of roles have prevented deeper collaboration. The document proposes identifying ways that students already circumvent traditional service models and finding new partner departments to bust silos. Stronger collaboration could help address student needs and lay the groundwork for a future joint learning commons space.

1. Organic Alignments: Toward a More Intuitive Model for Library and Writing Center Collaboration Heather Urschel-Speir, Writing & Tutoring Center Director, TCC Rachel Goon, Librarian, TCC

5. But then . . .

6. The Challenge: How to create a Learning Commons, without a common space? #1 Observe potential gaps in our current provision of academic support services. Does student use of our services circumvent the paths we’ve created around our budgetary or departmental or “traditional turf” boundaries? #2 It’s OK to form our silo-busting collaboration(s) around existing partnerships #3 Tie our collaboration to the College’s mission and/or other strongly supported initiatives

7. #1 Are students circumventing the prescribed paths to our services?

9. #2: Who are your likely partners? (0r turf-shredding, silo-busting collaborators?) Writing centers Tutoring centers Athletic department Libraries Adult basic education CASA Distance/e-learning ESL Developmental reading & writing International student services Teaching & learning centers Humanities/Science/Soc. Sci. Faculty Disability services