Here are a few notes from Lee LaFleur, based on his work on the Global Research and Education portal (developed by a team of three librarians):
Background and Context
In response to the growing emphasis on global research and education at George Mason University, Mason librarians acknowledged the need to enhance our web-based presence and services in order to better collocate and consolidate resources to support the new Global Research and Education spire of excellence. The establishment of the Library Research portal for Global Research and Education is one of the key developments in this process.
Starting the Portal
The portal design team consisted of three librarians with specializations in global affairs, public policy, and international relations along with the AUL for Digital Programs and Systems. Victoria Shelton, the Life Sciences Liaison also provided advice and assistance. Among the first tasks was the creation of a resource classification scheme for global research that encompassing international subjects with a focus on international affairs, education, and economics, all areas which are prioritized among the Mason community. Following that step, the team then began to identify resources, databases and websites that would be included in the portal. Additionally, the project team researched different campus programs in order to identify likely beneficiaries of the portal
Interdisciplinary Content and Community
The portal most specifically focuses on the needs of graduate level researchers in public policy, political science, international relations and international development. That said, by focusing on the research and teaching aspects of these subjects, we hope to see it serve as a resource for anyone interested in monitoring activities at the University and within academia related to engaging scholars on these issues. In this regard, the portal attempts to bring together content related to current events, scholarly research, teaching, and academic programming in a way that intertwines research and practice. .
Upkeep and Ongoing Management
The initial team of developers continues to update and add content to the portal. Through meetings with academic faculty and other constituents, we hope to expand the content and utility of the portal as resource. The University Libraries have recently hired a new Global Programs/Foreign Languages Liaison Librarian, who has been included in discussions regarding the future of the portal.