A new agreement between Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College is being touted as a groundbreaking model for improving library services to community college students while leveraging resources between two institutions of higher learning.<\/p>\n
NAU President\u00a0John Haeger<\/strong>\u00a0and CCC President Leah Bornstein brainstormed the partnership as a way to help CCC supplement its plans to scale back its library services due to tightening budgets in Arizona higher education.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was an opportunity to think outside the box and consider how enhancing the college\u2019s partnership with NAU could work to everyone\u2019s advantage,\u201d Bornstein said.<\/p>\n The result is an innovative alliance that begins July 1, in which all CCC students and faculty will have the opportunity to take advantage of NAU Cline Library\u2019s increased hours, assistance and information resources. CCC students and faculty also will have remote access to databases, interlibrary loans and document delivery services from Cline Library.<\/p>\n As part of the agreement, CCC will compensate NAU based on usage which will be tracked when CCC students use the library.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving CCC students access to Cline Library is a smart way to share resources,\u201d Haeger explained, adding that he and Bornstein are exploring other ways to leverage the two institutions\u2019 purchasing power, such as through licensing of library databases. \u201cThis kind of partnership between a research university and a multi-campus community college is groundbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n An added incentive of the partnership is in the opportunity for Cline Library staff to better understand community college students\u2019 needs and how NAU can better meet those needs, bringing those students one step closer to an NAU degree.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that helping them become successful community college students will spark their interest in transferring to NAU for their bachelor\u2019s degree,\u201d said\u00a0Beth Schuck<\/strong>, associate university librarian for Cline Library.<\/p>\n Though it is unclear how many and how often CCC students and faculty will use NAU\u2019s library resources, both schools are excited about the potential impact the partnership could have on student success.<\/p>\n \u201cThe library merger will expand CCC\u2019s research, study and learning opportunities for faculty and students,\u201d Bornstein said. \u201cIt also gives CCC and NAU a deeper, broader relationship and illustrates that both institutions are willing to leverage resources as good stewards of public funds.\u201d<\/p>\n Haeger added that the partnership could have far-reaching significance. \u201cWith higher education budgets continuing to be squeezed, this has the potential to serve as a model for other institutions seeking creative solutions to shrinking budgets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"