Checklist of Potential Liaison Activities
The following checklist is meant to identify potential activities for individual liaisons to consider when preparing a course of action for their assigned programs. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive; rather it is meant to outline a variety of actions one might consider when preparing a liaison action plan for a particular academic year. Recognizing that no one plan will serve for all – that each assignment, and each liaison’s skills, time, and energy call for a different strategy during any particular year – the checklist is presented as a source of possible actions not as a specific or definitive program.
Communication
- Have name added to departmental mail and e-mail distribution lists
- Create or update electronic distribution list of liaison clientele
- Update subject web page or other "resources by subject page"
- Have resources by subject page linked from department, program or Regional
Campus web site
- Produce information guides on new services, collections, and research
tools
- Prepare or update subject research guides and electronic guides
- Have subject research guides and electronic guides scanned and linked
to the subject web page
- Schedule regular on site visits, e.g. office or computer lab hours
- Write a feature or column for departmental newsletter
- Prepare and distribute library information news updates (electronic or
paper) targeted to the liaison department
Information Sharing
- Send information packets to new faculty including adjuncts
- Schedule individual orientation meetings with new faculty and adjuncts
- Schedule library orientation session for new graduate students
- Review and, if appropriate, revise undergraduate (First Year) orientation
or instruction programs
- Schedule demonstrations of relevant electronic products
- Introduce or update new and continuing faculty and students to the ILL/Document
Delivery services
- Establish or update current awareness accounts for faculty or graduate
students
- Prepare library exhibit(s) relating to liaison area
- Establish or update new books distribution list (GOBI)
- Establish "new materials" list for other formats such as videos or CDs
Information Gathering
- Meet with Department Head, Dean, or Campus Director to learn about the current plans for the department, program, or campus; seek feedback on the library liaison program and the action plan being established for the year.
- Continue meeting regularly with departmental liaison to learn about current plans for the Department; seek feedback on the library liaison program and the action plan being established for the year.
- Attend departmental meetings or other faculty inclusive gatherings
- Attend departmental or campus seminars/events/workshops
- Attend departmental or campus retreat
- Survey and document faculty research interests
- Serve on a departmental, program, or campus committee (e.g., facility re-dedication)
- Assist with department, program, or campus self-study / re-accreditation / grant
- Learn about the curriculum
Collection Development
- Perform reference collection review and weed
- Perform a scan of electronic resources in the subject or program area
and prepare a recommendation for the Network Services Team after reviewing
NST priority objectives
- Create or update collection development profile
- Create or update collection development policy and when appropriate communicate
to appropriate individuals or team
- Monitor use of serial titles: add and drop titles according to cost and
need
- Review serial titles for potential shift from paper to electronic format
Program Development
- Monitor the profession with regard to potential liaison activities for
this area
- Investigate whether a collaboration or a partnership with another library
staff member would enhance a Liaison program objective
- Audit or attend a class in the liaison subject area
- Write and submit an article for publication that is related to one’s liaison
work or liaison subject area
- Participate in a conference or workshop related to one’s subject area
- Assist with planning of conference related to one's subject area
New Directions