Library Liaisons - Partnering, Connecting, & Engaging with Users: A Recipe for Success

Shannon D. JonesHead, Outreach Services

Catharine S. CanevariFormer Associate Director, Research and Education

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, VCU Libraries

Rationale

• Increased use of library resources via our web site• Declining gate counts• Evolving definition of outreach• Evolving information seeking behaviors of users• Users don’t know that they don’t know

TML Library Liaisons Program OverviewAbout Us

• Backbone for our Research, Education, & Outreach Programs

• Program has been evolving since early 1990s

• We serve BIG schools with few librarians

• Target Audience: 5 professional schools, an emerging school, an NCI designated cancer center, multiple affiliated Centers and Institutes, a biotech research park, the only medical center in Central Virginia, and the lay community.

• Each school is assigned 1-2 liaisons

TML Library Liaisons Program OverviewOur Goals

• Keep users abreast of developments with library services and resources

• Increase our visibility on the health sciences campus• Support users research and information needs• Plan programs and events that showcase the library’s

array of resources and services• Partner with other units to support university initiatives• Enhance our users experience using library services and

resources remotely

Shannon Jones

Margaret HendersonAlan Williams

Kristine HughesVirginia StoneLynne Turman

Irene Lubker Barbara Wright

Meet the TML Library Liaisons

Jodi Koste

TEAM TML

Liaison Activities : Personal Library Shoppers

• Ambassadors for the library on campus

• Serve as the first point of contact for liaison schools

• Participate on curriculum committees, accreditation reviews and/or self studies, grant committees and institutes

• Participate in events and programs sponsored by schools and medical center

Liaison Activities : Personal Library Shoppers

Serve as Information filters

How We Excel – Rules of Engagement

• Commitment to working well with our users• Listen to our users needs, then build that feedback into our

programs and services• Share information with one another• Track interactions with users• Stay abreast of happenings on campus• Showcase an interest in issues affecting our users• Partner with other units on campus to meet goals• Provide TLC for 1-2 schools instead of ALL

Partnering for Success• No money doesn’t mean you can’t do it!• Do more with less by pooling resources• Address shared goals and common interests• Removes the element of competition• Opportunity to showcase library’s value in a variety of

areas• Allows for subtly promotions of library resources

TML Exhibitions: Changing the Face

of Medicine

Mobile Tech Fair 2006 & Technology Days 2007

Connecting with our Users – By Any Means Necessary • One size does not fit all • Word of Mouth• Meet users on their turf • Plan events and workshops on topics relevant to users • Promote library services in departmental newsletters, e-

newsletters, list-servs, and events calendars• Post library-themed displays in University Buildings • Volunteer at events that are important to our users – Walk-a-

thons, Bake sales, Health fairs, etc.• Establish a presence in Blackboard and/or another portal• Solicit comments & feedback through a Suggestion Blog• If all else fails entice users with freebies and food

Connecting with Users: The

Streets of VCU

Connecting with Users: Supporting Users Research Initiatives• Research Subject Protection: animals (IACUC) and

humans (IRB)

• Capital Area Health Education Center (CAHEC) Project Support

• Quality Performance Measurement, Data Collection, and Reporting in Primary Care (AHRQ Task Order)

• Family Medicine project

Connecting with Users: Relevant Programs

• CDC's National Center for Health Statistics taught by CDC staff

• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) by NCBI staff

• National Network of Libraries of Medicine-SEA by NNLM/SEA staff

• Public Health Grand Rounds by UNC-CH School of Public Health

Our Measures of Success • Increased thank you notes and emails from our users • Increased attendance at our events and instruction sessions• Increased partnership invitations• Increased consultations resulting from word of mouth referrals from

users• Increased instruction requests from existing and new users• Comments and feedback from event and instruction evaluation forms• Users see us for more than books and databases

Results of Liaison Program

• Increased library’s visibility on campus• Users are more informed about library services and collections• We don’t have to ask for a place at the table• Increased involvement in the VCU research enterprise• New opportunities to provide instruction to new groups• Increased opportunities for partnerships• Offering programs and events on topics that are important to users• More opportunities to engage with users in a variety of settings• Users more familiar with their specific liaison• Improved communication with schools

Challenges• Funding• We have a small staff!• Learning to saying “No”• Learning curve for new library staff and faculty• Not enough time in the day• Lack of space• Have not been as successful engaging with one of our schools

Questions???