Dear Colleagues,
As previously announced via SILS-News, phase 4 of the SILS project will conclude on December 23, 2021, and the new UC Libraries Advisory Structure (UCLAS)-integrated SILS governance will commence on January 3, 2022. Please see below for a brief overview of the transition and new structure.
For more details, a copy of the forthcoming, UCLAS-integrated SILS structure is available on the UC Libraries website and an overview will be provided at the Tuesday, Sept. 21 SILS Town Hall from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Please note the time change, and RSVP here.
Wait, what is happening?
Starting in January 2022, the new structure will completely replace the existing, phase 4 SILS structure; we’ll be moving from project-based (i.e., time-limited) to ongoing governance and operations teams. Since 2017, SILS has been advanced as a multi-phase project (planning, vendor selection and, most recently, implementation). Now that we have successfully migrated from 10 independent ILSs to a systemwide ILS, we are ready to establish ongoing operational teams.
UC Libraries already have a systemwide governance structure (UCLAS) that oversees and carries out shared work, services and operations. In January 2022, SILS will no longer be a project working outside of UCLAS – instead, it will be embedded into and part of UCLAS.
SILS work will be charged by and report to the existing Direction and Oversight Committee (DOC). DOC reports to the UC Council of University Librarians (CoUL), carries out core systemwide priorities and oversees UCLAS teams/groups.
What will the new SILS structure look like?
The SILS Leadership Group will report to DOC and be responsible for systemwide SILS strategic direction; it will also provide oversight and guidance on systemwide SILS operations.
The SILS Operations Team, a representative team, will lead and coordinate systemwide operational use of the SILS, including UC Library Search and the Network Zone, and provide oversight and guidance to operations subteams.
SILS Operations Subteams will be representative and the primary groups responsible for leading discussions and making operational policy and practice decisions in defined functional areas, with the goal of developing, implementing, and maintaining UC-wide policies, practices and workflows.
And as needed, SILS Project Teams will be created and charged to perform time-limited and clearly scoped activities with specific outcomes and end dates. Project Teams will be utilized when ongoing teams do not have the applicable expertise or bandwidth to carry out specific explorations or analyses.
A SILS Operations Center has also been established at the California Digital Library, to work in close partnership with the UCLAS-integrated SILS teams.
How will group/team members be appointed in the ongoing SILS Structure?
The initial call for team/group members will be managed by the SILS Transition Task Force and DOC, and DOC will finalize all appointments. Membership will predominantly be term-based (e.g., 2-3 year terms). For continuity, we will initially aim to build a cohort where at least half of the members have SILS group/team experience from a prior project phase; continued SILS involvement will vary given campus-specific capacity, but this transition to a new structure and ongoing work presents an opportunity for UC Libraries employees without prior SILS project experience to get involved.
How can I find out more?
As noted above, a copy of the forthcoming, UCLAS-integrated SILS structure, including work practices and detailed charges, is available to download from the UC Libraries website. And the Sept. 21 SILS Town Hall (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.) will provide an overview of UCLAS, the new SILS Structure and the work underway to support the UC Libraries’ transition to it, as well as the SILS Operations Center at CDL. If you are interested in attending the town hall, please RSVP on Zoom.
If you have any questions in advance of the town hall, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Ginny Steel (vsteel@library.ucla.edu) & Aislinn Sotelo (asotelo@ucsd.edu)
SILS Shared Governance Task Force co-chairs