Department Liaisons

What is a department liaison?

The department liaison is a librarian who has been formally designated as the primary contact person between the library and your academic unit. The liaison’s role is to foster two-way communication between the library and your academic department or program.

What does the liaison do?

The liaison establishes a relationship with the faculty in your academic unit and becomes familiar with your subject discipline and its resources. S/he works with the faculty to ensure that relevant information access skills and tools are incorporated into all levels of the program to which s/he’s assigned.

What benefits does your academic unit receive?

• customized instruction for students based upon faculty members’ requests
• demonstrations of library resources for faculty
• assistance to faculty and students in use of the library’s resources and services
• a regular communication channel for requesting materials that support the curriculum
• regular updates on new services offered by the library using the delivery method preferred by your department--email, oral announcements at departmental meetings, or printed announcements
• a customized web page linking to resources in your subject discipline
• one-on-one consultations for research, grants, and special projects
• mediated literature searching
• reference assistance
• assistance in completing interlibrary loan requests
• notification of new library resources in your subject discipline