Converging Spaces with Innovation Initiatives Leads to Beneficial Collaboration. Tallie Casucci, MLIS; Jean P. Shipman, MSLS, AHIP, FMLA; John T. Langell, MD, PhD, MPh, MBA; Roger Altizer, PhD; Christy Jarvis, MLIS; Nancy T. Lombardo, MLS, AHIP; Jeanne Le Ber, MLIS, AHIP; Erin Wimmer, MLIS, MA, AHIP; Megan McIntyre. University of Utah.
Objective: This presentation illustrates the contributions librarians have made to a university’s innovation initiatives, such as medical devices, games, and apps. The results of a collaborative partnership between a health sciences library and an innovation center will be shared (e.g. digital repository of intellectual content), along with lessons learned from converting part of a library into an innovation accelerator.
Methods: A needs assessment determined desired components of the innovation accelerator. Stakeholder meetings identified types of space, equipment, and furniture needed. For the digital repository, meetings specified desired metadata for describing products and their contributors. A strategy for collecting identified metadata and the project’s associated documentation was developed. Various mechanisms of support for competitive events and product development were offered in response to requests by leaders and teams.
Results: This partnership fostered the inclusion of evidence-based knowledge of the created devices, games, and apps and preservation of idea development documents, intellectual property contributions, and associated visuals. Other benefits included locating a receptive home for one of the university’s newer departments, connecting local industry to fresh ideas and student ingenuity, providing students with access to experts, and recognizing financial gains for the health system.
Conclusions: Librarians have become relevant to an even broader constituency of users and have learned new subject areas. As more universities implement innovation as a critical mission, it is important for librarians to accept new opportunities and challenges associated with supporting creativity. Library buildings can be revitalized to host innovative personnel, as knowledge creation is a common theme between innovation and information.
