I CONCETTI DI COLLABORAZIONE E CONVERGENZA IN UN CONTESTO DI LIS:

COLLABORATION CONTINUUM

Nonostante spesso i due termini siano confusi ed utilizzati senza distinzione743, collaborazione e convergenza hanno due significati differenti e questo è molto evidente in un contesto di library and information science744. Per spiegare chiaramente in cosa si differenziano dobbiamo inserire qui il concetto di collaboration continuum pensato da Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008)745: “The collaborative continuum framework has been proposed as a tool for assessing and defining the nature of integrative practice between GLAM entities” 746_{, perché “The current ideology of collaborative thinking is founded}

in the prevailing holistic and global ideology of a society where all GLAM entities are seen to be integrated and influenced by each other”747_.

740 _{Citazione da Wellington (2013).}

741 _{Si rimanda al testo per gli autori che trattano dell’argomento.} 742 _{Citazione da Marcum (2014, 86).}

743 _{Così riportano Warren and Mattews (2018) : “Collaboration and convergence are terms often used interchangeably /}

imprecisely throughout the literature to describe relationships between cultural organisations, including libraries and museums.” I due autori confermano che “the use of these terms remains inconsistent throughout the literature”. Anche Wellington (2013) conferma come “The term - collaboration- has been historically used throughout the related literature as an all-encompassing catch-phrase to describe many different forms of contact, partnership and co-operative practice”.

La visione più critica a questo proposito è quella di Robinson (2014) che scrive “The concept of convergence, and what it means in practice, has, to date, evaded a singular definition, as evidenced by the variety of partnerships, collaborations, institutional models and staff structures which describe themselves, or are described, as converged. So too, it is difficult to pinpoint terms to accurately express every example of convergence. Accordingly, in this paper, convergence may also be referred to as the ‘integration’, ‘joining’, ‘amalgamation’, etc., of collecting institutions..”.

744 _{Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008) spiegano che il termine collaborazione “In the context of LAM activities, it has become}

an over-arching rubric, covering everything from simple interactions (such as informal meetings) to highly intricate LAM activity (such as integrating information systems). However, characterizing such diverse endeavors by a single term masks important distinctions”.

745 _{Higgins (2013) afferma che il concetto sarebbe stato elaborato da Soehner (2005) e poi perfezionato dai tre autori citati:}

“the Collaboration Continuum first identified by Soehner and elaborated by Zorich, Gunter and Erway..”. Anche VanderBerg (2012, 136) conferma il ruolo di Soehner.

746 _{Wellington (2013).}

IMG Il collaboration continuum, da Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008)748.

Il motivo per cui è stato scelto questo schema evolutivo è perché “To examine collaborative processes and behaviors in a more uniform manner, it is useful to view collaborative activities on a continuum […] As LAMs move from left to right on this continuum, the collaborative endeavor becomes more complex, the investment of effort becomes more significant, and the risks increase accordingly. However, the rewards also become greater, moving from singular, “one-off” projects to programs that can transform the services and functions of an organization”749 _{Collaborazione e convergenza sono quindi solamente i due}

modi di esprimersi conclusivi all’interno del continuum del contatto tra le istituzioni. “The various points along the continuum mark significant shifts in the collaborative process, and as a result of the LAM interactions witnessed in the course of this project”750. Vediamo or ail significato di questi due termini.

COLLABORAZIONE:

Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008) spiegano che “Broadly speaking, collaboration refers to a process in which two or more groups work together toward a common goal by sharing expertise, information and resources.” Tuttavia in un contesto più specifico di LIS, “It is a “…process of shared creation: two or more [groups]...interacting to create a shared understanding that none had previously possessed or could

748 _{Immagine presa da Ketelaar (2013), che riporta il pensiero citato.} 749 _{Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008).}

750 _{Ancora in Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008). Gli autori poi definiscono uno per uno i 5 tipi di punti di contatto: riportiamo}

qui parte di quanto scritto per chiarire ciò di cui stiamo parlando. “The continuum starts with contact, when groups first meet to open up a dialogue and explore commonalities in activities and needs.[…] The next major point on the continuum is

cooperation. At this stage, LAMs agree to work informally on an activity or effort that offers a small, yet tangible, benefit. […]Coordination marks the next major point on the continuum. When cooperative activities move beyond a stage where they can be undertaken on an “as needed” or ad hoc basis, a framework is required to organize efforts and ensure that everyone in the group understands “who does what, when and where.” Efficiency becomes more critical, and activities must be planned in concert with schedules and staff availability in order to proceed smoothly.” Da qui poi si passa a collaborazione e convergenza che vedremo in dettaglio. Interessante legato al collaboration continuum il pensiero di Higgins(2013) che afferma “Digital curation is the change agent which is moving LAMs along the collaboration continuum from collaboration to convergence”, perchè “The technical challenges and investment required mean that organizations are forced to pool experience and expertise.”.

have come to on their own.”751 _{Information is not just exchanged; it is used to create something new. In}

collaboration, “something is there that wasn’t there before.”752 _{That “something” is not just a new idea,}

but a transformation among the collaborating institutions.”753

Ketelaar (2013)754 a sua volta afferma che la collaborazione “moves beyond contact, cooperation, and coordination. It often starts with the question: ‘What can we do together?’ It is a ‘process of shared creation’ of ‘something that wasn't there before’. That ‘something’ is not just a new idea, but a transformation among the collaborating institutions”

Wellington (2013) scrive che “Current research suggests that collaboration can be viewed as a transformative act, a process that creates a change in the nature or ideology of the participating organisations.”

Martin (2007) lascia una sua opinione particolare a riguardo: “Collaboration, however, is not easy. It requires that we, as individuals and as institutions, behave in ways that are not “normal,” that feel unnatural. One definition of collaboration is “an unnatural act, practiced by non-consenting adults.” ” Higgins (2013) scrive che “Collaboration deepens the commitment between LAMs, so that in certain areas they become inter-dependent and working practices have to change”.

CONVERGENZA:

Zorich, Waibel and Erway (2008) scrivono che “The endpoint of the collaboration continuum is convergence, a state in which collaboration around a specific function or idea has become so extensive, engrained and assumed that it is no longer recognized by others as a collaborative undertaking. Instead, it has matured to the level of infrastructure and becomes, like our water or transportation networks, a critical system that we rely upon without considering the collaborative efforts and compromises that made it possible.”

Mahmud (2014) scrive similmente che “Convergence is the process by which two or more people or organisations a set of common knowledge through social interaction knowledge construction process”. Per il contesto italiano vogliamo citare Tammaro (2014)755 che spiega che “Nel Dizionario Treccani si definisce la convergenza come «Il tendere a un medesimo fine, il concorrere a un determinato effetto, o simili: convergenza di cause, di fenomeni, di propositi, di interessi». Nel contesto delle istituzioni culturali, la convergenza è soprattutto convergenza della dimensione tecnologica, determinata dalla spinta alla digitalizzazione del patrimonio culturale di archivi, biblioteche, musei.”

751 _{Gli autori qui citano Schrage (1990, 140).} 752 _{Gli autori qui citano ancora Schrage (1990, 140).} 753 _{Per maggiori informazioni si rimanda al testo.} 754 _{Ketelaar (2014).}

755 _{Notiamo che questo è l’unico testo fino ad ora a provenire dal contesto italiano; si vuole rappresentare anche in questo}

Higgins (2013) scrive che “Convergence happens when joint activities cease to be selective collaborations which require special project status. Instead there is a full committment to integration around a common mission. Organizationl procedures, the collection management framework and priorities are harmonized so that shared services are delivered from a shared infrastructure”.

In sintesi, come afferma ancora Higgins (2013)756, “Collaboration between libraries, archives and museums (LAMS) is undertaken in a continuum which starts with an initial understanding of the differences between the disciplines, and can lead to full convergence with a shared mission and delivery of shared services”.