2016 Charleston Library Conference

Are you considering establishing a new or re-invigorated Subject Liaison program in your library but don't know how to begin? Why not partner with an established liaison program at another library?

In spring 2015, key public service managers at Louisiana State University Libraries visited University of Central Florida Libraries to learn about UCF's three-year-old reimagined Subject Liaison program.  LSU managers liked what they saw at UCF and returned home with a to-do list that included: working with their Collection Development Department to fine-tune academic program assignments for LSU liaisons; creating a liaison training program that focused on academic program profiling, faculty profiling, curriculum mapping, curriculum integrated instruction, and increased  liaison visibility and accessibility; proactive outreach to faculty and students to market library services and resources.

Sample liaison training documents, collegial advice, and progress reports traveled back and forth between UCF and LSU throughout summer and fall 2015, leading to the UCF- RIS Head traveling to LSU in January 2016 for face-to-face training sessions with LSU Liaisons. Fast forward to fall 2016 and now LSU liaisons are participating in bi-weekly training meetings that incorporate topics from curriculum mapping to licensing of electronic databases.
 
Public Service heads from UCF and LSU will discuss how their liaison programs are the same and how they differ; what the challenges are in their current programs and what the future may hold. Lessons learned by UCF and LSU will provide insight for other academic libraries wishing to create liaison programs designed to support student and faculty success at their own institutions. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and share ideas from their own liaison program perspectives. After participating in this program, attendees will be able to develop winning liaison program strategies for their own institution.

This poster is co-authored by Lois Kuyper-Rushing, Associate Dean for Public Services at Louisiana State University, who was unable to attend the conference.