Purpose

Advances in information technology demand that AULs and Assistant Directors develop new solutions, evolve to meet changing user expectations, and prepare leaders for the future. Whether we are in technical services, public services, collection development, or information technology, we must develop cross-functional vision that makes internal organizational structures more flexible, agile, and effective. We must move beyond the borders and transcend the traditional library organization. Taiga is the land between the tundra and deciduous forests and grasslands. Taiga is about change, a place of shifting boundaries.

Activities

The Taiga Forum hosts an annual conference, usually around ALA Midwinter. Due to the format of the conference, as well as limited space, the event is by invitation only.

An active online social network is maintained by the Taiga Forum to faciliate continuing discussion of pertinent issues throughout the year. Membership in the online social network is open to all AULs and ADs who wish to participate. To receive an invitation to join the network, please fill out the contact form on this web page.

Files

1. Taiga2: Provocative Statements

Drop us a line!

If you are an AUL or AD interested in participating in the Taiga Forum, please contact us using the form below.

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... Joining Taiga Taiga Conference General Inquiry Media Inquiry Other

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Announcements

Taiga Forum: Shifting Boundaries

The Taiga Steering Committee is pleased to announce that the conversations begun at the two previous Taiga Forums will continue with Taiga 3, which will take place on Thursday, January 10, 2008, immediately preceding ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia. The University of Pennsylvania has graciously offered to provide meeting space; details will follow as the time approaches.

Rapid change in academic libraries has blurred the lines between traditional units such as Public Services, Technical Services, Collections, and IT. The Taiga Forum presents an approach to leadership development in academic libraries focusing on the complex role of the Associate/Assistant University Librarian in navigating cross-functional responsibilities and meeting the challenges of leadership in an emergent professional environment.

The inaugural Taiga Forum ("Shifting Boundaries") was held in Chicago in March 2006, and brought together Associate/Assistant University Librarians from large institutions across the country for the first time in a way that allowed leaders from across the spectrum of professional library work to share ideas about using cross-functional vision in making internal organizational structures more flexible, agile, and effective. They were challenged to move beyond the borders and transcend the traditional library organization.

The second Taiga Forum ("Taiga 2: Open Space") was held in Seattle in January 2007, and made use of the "open space" model to facilitate the creation of a user-driven agenda that came together around shared visions of the challenges and opportunities facing Associate/Assistant University Librarians in the contemporary academic library environment.

From Taiga 2 came the call to expand the Taiga discussion in ways that take advantage of information technology, social computing, and opportunities for creating greater network effects for change leadership in libraries.

The Taiga Steering Committee, led by Brad Eden (UC-Santa Barbara), is moving in collaboration with R2 Consulting to meet that call and to create an interactive Taiga Forum online community that will help move these discussions forward in between regular face-to-face meetings. More information on the development of the online Taiga Forum will be forthcoming during the next few weeks.

We hope to see you in Philadelphia!

The Taiga Steering Committee