The articles in this issue reflect “collaboration across boundaries” in the best sense. Some of the boundaries are geographic, such as in Deanna Sukkar’s article “The Road to Global Connections and Better Lives” about the Global Libraries initiative at the Gates Foundation, and Rayette Sterling’s article “Washington Idaho Network,” which describes boundary-crossing closer to home.
All of the articles related to this theme, however, address crossing the more intangible boundaries of culture, community, trust, and spirit. Brian Soneda’s “Collaboration across Boundaries: the Skagit Story” offer examples of partnerships born of necessity and the spirit of public service. Can a special library and an academic library learn to tango? Find our about joint-use libraries in Annanaomi Sams’s article “Are We Partners? Are We Married? Do We Dance?” ALA President-elect Camila Alire discusses the importance of collaboration for libraries in an Alki interview, “Community, Collaboration, and the Cowboy Cha-Cha.”
As evidenced in this issue, the library community in Washington has the experience and determination to work together to overcome limits, whatever the nature of the limits may be. I hope you will find a success story here that inspires you.
Alki Editor: JJulie Miller
Alki Editorial Committee: Sue Andeson; Lynne King; Erin Krake; Brian Soneda; Rayette Sterling; Deanne Sukkar; Mary Wise, Chair; Bo Kinney, Alki Intern
Graphic Designer: Tammy Reniche, Director of Publications for Melby Cameron & Anderson
