Welcome Back! Day Two

Homework

• Our next challenge to discuss—outreach.

• Before we meet tomorrow, be ready to share: – A program you would like to reach out to– A faculty member’s class you would like

to work with

Homework review

• Use the whiteboard tools and share:

– A program you would like to reach out to– A faculty member’s class you would like

to work with

– Add—a strategy you think will help you get a foot in the door.

Best practices: outreach

• The elevator speech

• “What’s going on in the library?”

• Response—more than “Idunnonotmuch”

Sparking Interest• Contact faculty directly• Have a specific proposal in mind• Offer your services after a rash of

questions• Rely on word of mouth • Maintain positive interactions and

open communication

The Collection Development Connection

• Liaison program + computers=getting your foot in the door!

• When you meet the needs of faculty well (collections, electronic resources, hardware) they become more involved as partners.

Becoming embedded

• Librarians “go native”—are on the ground departmentally and play a direct role in a class or departmental project

Embedded librarians

• Have a presence in the academic department

• Begin in departments that are already “library friendly” –experiment and grow

• Don’t get overloaded!• Discover what is most valued by

faculty/students in the class/department

Remember…

• You aren’t going to persuade them all• Build strong relationships with a few• Build trust/respect• Use that contact to gain the

notice/interest of others• Walk the halls!

Before You Go There…

• Know the field (resources, journals, reference tools)

• Be forward, but not aggressive • Never assume anything• Don’t be shocked (what do you MEAN

you don’t know what ERIC is!?!) • Be open to new ideas and methods• Be sure you REALLY want to do this!

Meeting regularly with faculty…

• …but as an asset, not “because my director said I should get on the agenda this month”

• Participate in seminars, meetings, etc. • Take a class!• Take instruction to the department• Team teach—divide and conquer

complex material together as a team• Hang out over there

Understand collections

• Seek prodev opportunities in disciplinary areas • Participate in scholarly organizations (discipline

specific groups/roundtables at ALA) • Conduct subject or database specific workshops• Share discipline specific trends with your librarian

colleagues• Work with faculty to create subject guides

Promote and teach about resources

• Integrate info lit concepts into the discipline

• Research consultations• Information literacy instruction • Design tutorials• Become “embedded”• Develop places and spaces to show

off

Creating discipline specific resources

• Russell’s 5x5x5 rule for pathfinders – 5 most important print/reference– 5 most important databases– 5 most important internet resources

How to be extremely unsuccessful at creating a subject guide

Exercise

• As a group, we’re going to create a subject guide.

• Using the 5x5x5 method and the whiteboard, create a subject guide for biology

Assessing your liaison program

• Formative– Needs assessment/survey for faculty

AND liaisons– Effectiveness of liaison training

• Ongoing and summative– Assess faculty satisfaction

• Collections• Services• Instruction

For you, what does success look like?

• Share on the whiteboard what factors are indicative of a successful liaison program at your library:

What does success look like?

• Increased collections usage• More efficient spending of dedicated funds in the

disciplines• Faculty and librarians work more closely

together– Create/develop instruction, assignments,

guides together– Greater dialogue about all library services

• Increase overall number of instruction sessions • Greater presence in the campus community

Success…

• A librarian or two on every faculty committee

• Considered peers by other faculty• Librarian office hours in departments• One-on-one consultation with faculty

and students on research• Increase in respect for the library on

campus

Keys to liaison program sustainability

• Liaison role must remain fluid and be reviewed routinely

• Adding skills/knowledge, and keeping up

• Consistent promotion and marketing—if you start a new books blog…

• Getting/maintaining buy in/nurturing relationships

This will happen with liaisons

• Who…• Are experts, consultants, facilitators• Support faculty in challenging areas—intellectual

property/copyright, technology, assignment building

• Customize information to meet faculty/student needs

• Are seen outside the library• Train not only students, but faculty and staff, to

use information resources

Thank You For Attending!

Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?• 1.800.999.8558• Email: russell.palmer@lyrasis.org