Most academic libraries have embraced a "liaison" model for facilitating communication and provision of library services to academic programs (I used to be an Education Librarian, charged with working with academic programs in Teacher Education, etc.). Fewer have articulated programs for building sustainable relations with the multitude of student services programs. Do you have library liaisons to student affairs programs? How do we help make sure that relationships, once created, are sustained?

At UMass Amherst, we have liaisons to a number of what we call "centers and institutes," many of which are student service providers:

http://www.library.umass.edu/reference/liaisons.html#centers

As part of a self-study of library service for undergrads, we've identified the need for a stronger liaison program to campus service providers and cultural centers. As part of that same self-study, we ran a focus group for campus service providers (including Residence Life, Advising, International Programs, IT, Learning Resource Center, and others) to learn more about their work with undergrads, how they market their services successfully, and what they've learned about undergrad info seeking habits. Fascinating answers! Transcripts of that focus group are available on our wiki, http://fuss.pbwiki.com -- just look in the SideBar for "Focus group notes: service providers."

At Oregon State, my position (undergraduate services librarian) was created in part to formalize information relationships I had developed with student affairs, academic success and other programs when I was the library Instruction Coordinator. All of my "liaison" relationships are with programs and offices that fall outside of the traditional college/department structure. These are formal, in that they are listed in my position description, but they are flexible, in that I can add to them as opportunities arise. In the short time I've been in this position, I have noticed that it is different to be able to tell people that I am the library liaison to their program - it emphasizes the fact that we in the library think that these partnerships are important.

I agree about the value of formalizing these relationships and yours is an interesting model in terms of the change to your position description. We have a similar, but more narrowly defined, position at Illinois - Outreach Librarian for Multicultural Services (new this year). Any others with positions like this to share in which the liaison model is formally applied to defining professional responsibilities for work with student affairs programs?

Thanks for sharing this Emily!

This is a fascinating topic and one that I am greatly interested in.

At University of the Pacific, we are just completing our strategic plan for 2008-2015. As we read it, we can see many places where the role of the library is critical to the success of the initiative, but where we are not explicitly mentioned. Many of these have to do with co-curricular programs in Student Life and Housing. I can't help but think that a more formal or at least intentional relationship between the library and these groups would be mutually beneficial.

Before rushing in, however, I am planning to meet with/talk to Student Life, Housing, continuing education, athletics, etc., to see if they can identify value in such a relationship. I'll let you know what I find out.

Hi, Scott. You don't have to look very far for these liaisons.

There is myself, the Residence Life Librarian, and Lisa Redlinski, the Career Center Librarian. We are each employed by Student Affairs and are not formally associated with the University Library. I manage the eight residence hall libraries, and Lisa manages the Career Center's collections.

I would be happy to meet with you and discuss how Lisa and I can help bridge the divide between Student Affairs and the University Library.

Your program sounds very interesting. Are you and your colleague Lisa MLIS Librarians? What are some of the types of library work that you do in the residence halls and the Career Center? I am very interested.--Leslie

Hi Leslie -- I'm sorry I just saw your message several months after your question. I manage eight libraries located in the undergraduate residence halls, where I collect both popular reading materials and educational materials that support the classes taught in the residential colleges. I offer outreach to our student organizations based in the halls, and I teach library instruction to the classes that are part of the residential colleges.

My colleague Lisa manages the Career Center's library, where she oversees collections that help students explore careers, prepare for graduate study, learn how to write resumes, search and apply for jobs, and learn interviewing and salary negotiation skills. She also provides workshops to student organizations on topics such as how to investigate the environmental record of companies.

We are both fully part of the Students Affairs side of campus and have no faculty rank or status. We both hold masters degrees in library science, and I have a masters in student affairs as well.