Breakout session from the Living the Future 7 Conference, April 30-May 3, 2008, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / The University of Arizona Libraries has developed several collaborative projects at local, regional and national levels. For example, the UA Libraries and the Office of Arid Land Studies at the University of Arizona have worked together on Rangelands West, a collaborative effort involving 19 Western land-grant universities. The UA Libraries and the Office of Arid Land Studies have recently partnered on a new initiative, the Sonoran Desert Knowledge Exchange (SDKE). SDKE is an emerging collaborative effort led by the UA Libraries involving more than 25 educational institutions, community organizations, and research centers. The presenters will share information about the vision of SDKE, the development and content of the project, discuss the roles of SDKE partners and participants, and examine the evolution of SDKE through the lens of collaboration. Issues surrounding the complexities of collaboration will be explored: How are transitions handled from library-led projects to more collaborative projects? What long-term vision is required to incorporate collaborative elements into project stages? What are the challenges and rewards of collaborative projects?