Library Liaison Q & A
What is the library liaison program?
Library faculty and teaching faculty need each other. Librarians
need teaching faculty for information on curriculum in order to keep collections
and instruction appropriate; and teaching faculty need librarians to maintain
the collections in the library and to instruct their students in library research.
The library liaison program links a representative faculty member from each
department (the departmental liaison) with the librarian trained as a specialist
in the department’s subject areas (the librarian liaison). Departmental
liaisons are designated by their departments. In large departments, more
than one liaison may be appointed. Departmental liaisons and librarians
meet as a group twice a year and informally as often as they need.
What does the departmental liaison do?
Consultation and Communication
- Communicates updates on new materials and new databases from the librarian
to departmental colleagues via campus mail, bulletin boards or email.
- Arranges for a librarian to give updates and training on new resources
to the department at departmental meetings or seminars
- Invites a librarian to give subject-specialized library instruction to
classes or small groups such as graduate assistants.
- Consults with librarian to design or discuss library-intensive assignments,
independent studies, senior papers, etc.
- Communicates to the librarian any departmental concerns regarding services
or policies in the library.
Collection Development
- Collects recommendations for purchases from all departmental faculty and
forwards them to the subject librarian (By compiling individual faculty
members’ requests, the liaison can work with the librarian, who is
aware of the budget allotment, to establish priorities for purchases. This
ensures that the needs of all the faculty and students are being met).
- Works with the librarian to maintain a balanced collection by suggesting
candidates for weeding.
- Informs librarian of new courses, programs or policies that may require
library resources
What does the librarian do?
Consultation and Communication
- Informs the departmental liaison of any new services, major purchases
or other information to be passed on to the department.
- Assists individual faculty members with new resources, updates, complex
searches (by appointment)
- Supports classes by developing reading lists, instructional web pages
or handouts, or by giving instruction sessions on library research (as requested
by individual faculty members or the department).
- Comes to your department to demonstrate new services or resources and
to gather input from your colleagues (on request).
- Collaborates with individual faculty members or committees to integrate
library research skills into the curriculum (on request).
- Instructs your GA’s in advanced library research skills (on request).
Collection Development
- Collects recommendations for purchase from the liaison and from any other
faculty members, evaluates and makes the purchase request to acquisitions.
- Maintains a balanced collection by regularly checking usage reports and
conferring with liaison.
- Keeps the collection development policy in line with new departmental
courses or policies.
- Notifies the liaison about any changes in journal subscriptions
- Informs the liaison of any new library programs or policies regarding
collections.
For more information about the liaison program, contact Lisa Klopfer lklopfer@emich.edu tel.
487-0020 ext. 2123.
Technical contact: keith@stanger.com