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THE LIBRARY LIAISON PROGRAM
The Library Liaison Program was begun in 1989 with the goals of:
- Establishing an on-going dialogue between the University Libraries and the academic programs it serves
- Building effective working relationships between library staff and faculty
- Improving library services
- Strengthening the role of library staff as spokespersons for the library As it has matured, the program has proven its value by strengthening communication channels between the library and academic programs and by providing a framework for projects that require faculty and library staff to work together. No two liaison relationships are precisely the same. Each one depends upon and is shaped by the level of initiative, cooperation, and receptivity that individuals are willing to invest in making the program productive.
WHAT IS A LIBRARY LIAISON?
A library liaison is a staff member who has been formally designated as the primary contact person between the University Libraries and an academic unit (school, department, center, program) of the University. The intention of such appointments is to provide faculty and students with the name of at least one person they can call upon as a starting point for assistance with, or information about, any library service or issue. The essence of the role played by a liaison is to foster two-way communication between the library and the university's academic program. The liaison is therefore expected to understand the information needs of his or her unit as clearly and specifically as possible, and to represent those needs in appropriate forums within the library.In general, library liaisons chiefly serve the subject needs of their own campuses, though at some regional campuses the liaison may serve the entire academic program at that campus. In all cases, liaisons are expected to provide an appropriate level of consultation system-wide in their specialization.
The library liaison is expected to be generally well-informed about the Libraries' collections, services, policies, and resources; and to be skilled in interpreting and promoting these to faculty and students in his or her academic unit. The liaison is also expected to become knowledgeable of the subject matter and nature of the teaching and research conducted by the academic unit, particularly with regard to changes in teaching and scholarly communication within the discipline.
WHAT DOES A LIAISON DO?
CommunicationRegular communication between the liaison and his or her academic unit is the foundation upon which the program is built. Liaisons accept responsibility to make themselves known and available to the faculty. The ways in which such communication takes place varies and there is no established pattern, but face-to-face, on-site contact outside the library is encouraged. Communication may be through an official departmental contact person or departmental library committee; by visits to individual faculty or scheduled on-site "advising hours;" through printed or electronic communications; by periodic or regular participation in faculty meetings, and by attendance at academic symposia or colloquia.
It is equally important that liaisons communicate effectively within the library, sharing information with colleagues informally or in Liaison Council meetings so that library policies, collections, and services are responsive to the interests and needs of the academic community. Tasks performed by liaisons are inter-related with work performed and managed across library functional areas. Liaisons are expected to issues or problems that need to be referred to or coordinated with colleagues in the library.
Collection Development and Information Access
Liaisons assume responsibility for a range of collection
development activities associated with one or more subject areas.
Collection development activities of liaisons, including the
degree to which they are performed, are coordinated by the
appropriate Collections Services Bibliographer. Liaisons:
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of information resources within a given subject area(s)
- Monitor receipt of approval plan books and slips on a regular basis
- Initiate orders for materials not received on approval
- Select, evaluate, and monitor electronic and web resources, creating appropriate subject pages for the library information server/*
- Notify faculty about new library services and materials of potential interest
- Review gift materials
- Maintain an awareness of expenditures within the parameters of budget allocation
- Maintain on-going review of serial subscriptions and options for alternative access
- Provide support for accreditation review processes, new academic programs, and grant proposals
- Evaluate collection strengths and weaknesses
- Assist in the identification of material for transfer, withdrawal, or conservation treatment
- Participate in the formulation and writing of collection development policy
User Services
Liaisons perform some or all of the following services :
- Assist at a public service desk
- Consult with students and faculty
- Provide reference correspondence
- Deliver unscheduled reference assistance
- Instruct individuals, groups or classes of students and faculty
- Train staff as appropriate
- Develop guides to resources and services
- Serve on academic committees concerned with library services
Program Evaluation
Liaisons help to evaluate the program by providing two written
reports on their liaison activities to the Liaison Steering
Committee each year, once in the Fall semester and once in the
Spring semester. This information is used by the Steering
Committee, in conjunction with information provided by the
academic departments, to evaluate the program, to assess the need
for new or altered assignments, to establish goals for the
program, to report to the academic departments on activities
performed for students and faculty, and to prepare the Liaison
Program annual report.
Dave Garnes (library liaison to the Nursing program) has been a fantastic help to us. He has been particularly helpful in assisting us in making literature searches easier. After putting me in touch with Terry Plum to get our PCs up and running to conduct lit searches from here in Storrs Hall, Dave came over to teach both students and faculty how to conduct searches from the comfort of our own university "home". Having the instruction here in Storrs Hall was much more friendly and easier for us, even though it meant extra effort on Dave's part. Having him conduct such introductions has become a regular semester event for our new students. He has made our interactions with the library easier, more successful, and rewarding. |
The library liaison program, with our liaison, Dr. Nancy Kline, has been of enormous benefit to the department in making graduate students and new faculty aware of library resources and in helping to make needed resources available for the Department. It has also been very useful in training laboratory teaching assistants about the use of library materials in their classroom assignments. |
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