Collaborating with Strangers Workshops: Broadening Impact through Florida Academic Libraries The Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida (UF) request $8,033 to train librarians (on five campuses in Florida) to facilitate Collaborating with Strangers (CoLAB) workshops, and to connect 150 students and librarians during CoLABs to demonstrate the process CoLABs eliminate barriers to networking with strangers, while creating fertile ground for creative, entrepreneurial ideas that arise from focused conversations Based on CoLAB Planning Series(R) facilitation methods, partners will engage in 3-minute conversations with strangers on research, skills and other "hidden" assets An average of 30 participants will meet 12-17 strangers resulting in 2,550 possible face-to-face connections Collaborative Assessment and Program Evaluation Services at UF will analyze trainee and participant data through pre and post-workshop surveys and interviews A student hire will update the CoLAB website, including evaluation reports and materials for trainees The book, Collaborating with Strangers: A Complete Guide to Facilitating Collaboration Workshops, will be provided to trainees CoLABs have served over 600 participants at UF, University of Washington and University of North Texas With limited notice, librarians at New College of Florida and Rollins College already want to participate if the project is awarded; and the remaining three spots will be determined upon notification of award CoLABs allow students to practice interpersonal communication as they move beyond their comfort zone to engage with strangers in interdisciplinary environments Dr Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA, finds that we are seeing an evolutionary change as the next tech savvy generation begins to "neglect human contact skills and lose the ability to read emotional expressions and body language." According to Small, "The people in the next generation who are really going to have the edge are the ones who master the technological skills and also face-to-face skills." Outcomes: 1) A minimum of five librarians from five academic libraries in Florida will be introduced to a 2-hour Collaborating with Strangers Workshop on their campuses; and will be trained (3-hour post-CoLAB session) in best practices for pre-workshop, during workshop, and post-workshop in order for librarians to facilitate CoLABs for students and faculty on their campuses Trainees will learn: to create topical themes; promotional strategies; to acquire funding for evaluation services and refreshments; methods for developing profile questions; techniques for facilitating interactions; methods for encouraging postworkshop connections; and evaluation processes to access the most data The desired result will be achieved if each campus' trainees agree to facilitate a CoLAB on their campus within six months from the training date 2) An average of 30 students per campus will experience CoLAB Workshops through which they will: engage between 12 - 17 face-to-face conversations with strangers; learn the variances between projects that are cooperative, coordinative, collaborative, and mentoring in nature; practice inquiring about assets owned by others that may spark ideas for combining forces on a project or learning about a new resource All participants will learn about asset-based community development and its reliance on faceto-face conversations 3) A website containing current results and information for trainees and participants An external evaluator will conduct two assessments: 1) determine knowledge acquired and comfort of librarians who plan to facilitate future CoLAB Workshops (including follow-up interviews with trainees); and, 2) degree to which CoLAB Workshop participants were able to improve their level of comfort in conversing with strangers; whether they would attend another CoLAB; whether they would recommend others attend a CoLAB; the synergies participants discovered; new resources participants learned about; and next steps resulting from the CoLAB Budget: $500 - books X campuses X $50 (estimate) book (Collaborating with Strangers: Complete Guide to Facilitating Collaboration Workshops in Libraries, Classroom, Conferences, and Nonprofits) $3,500 - average of $700 per site visit X campus site visits in Florida (to include mileage, meals, and accommodations for two to three project team members) Some travel may require night stays and rental car $3,000 - fee for Collaborative Assessment and Program Evaluation Services personnel to provide external assessment services of each training session and CoLAB workshop, including post-workshop interviews with trainees $1,033 - to hire a temporary computer engineering student programmer ($16/hr X 10 hrs/week X weeks ($960) + $73 in fringe) to update and improve the website, including results from the CoLABs, photographs, and information to support trainees in facilitating future workshops on their campuses Total request: $8,033 ... (estimate) book (Collaborating with Strangers: Complete Guide to Facilitating Collaboration Workshops in Libraries, Classroom, Conferences, and Nonprofits) $3,500 - average of $700 per site visit... $73 in fringe) to update and improve the website, including results from the CoLABs, photographs, and information to support trainees in facilitating future workshops on their campuses Total...others attend a CoLAB; the synergies participants discovered; new resources participants learned about; and next steps resulting from the CoLAB Budget: $500 - books X campuses X $50 (estimate)