Restructuring a Liaison Program in an Academic Library

Abstract

New technologies, an expanding universe of knowledge, and a more sophisticated user base influence not only how we provide access to information, but also how we define and organize ourselves in relation to the public. The J. Murrey Atkins Library of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has endeavored to strengthen the relationship between the library and the teaching faculty by restructuring the library's liaison program. Concurrently, but independent of this redesign, three experienced reference librarians assessed their effectiveness as liai sons by conducting a survey of selected departments. A review of the development and implementation of the library's program, together with an assessment of the faculty survey, confirm that specific elements are prerequisites of an effective liaison program.

What Liaisons Say about Themselves and What Faculty Say about Their Liaisons, a U.S. Survey

“…31 Our survey of faculty generally confirms the results of previous studies in that faculty who have more contact with or received more services from their liaison are more satisfied with the liaison than those who have less. 32 In our survey, more recent contact with the librarian was not associated with greater satisfaction with the library overall, unlike what had been found in a study at nine New England colleges. 33 Challenges for liaisons that have been documented in previous surveys also were confirmed in this survey.…”

A Method for Evaluating Library Liaison Activities in Small Academic Libraries

“…Mozenter, Sanders, and Welch's (2000) survey of teaching faculty in ten departments at UNC Charlotte evaluated the implementation of a restructured liaison program. The authors concluded that the program needed to be re-evaluated regularly, and that "the survey seemed to support the thesis that proactive liaisonship provides the greatest satisfaction" (p. 439).…”

Exploring interlibrary loan usage patterns and liaison activities: the experience at a US university

“…There is a lack of research exploring possible links between ILL usage and librarian liaison work. Mozenter et al (2000) explores the restructuring of liaison services at one university library. Although the author successfully addresses the challenges and diversity of assessing and restructuring a liaison program the link between ILL and liaisons is absent.…”