What You Should Know
These resources outline best practices and offer ideas that can help guide new liaisons. This information can also help established liaisons discover new ideas, expand their best practices, and find links to information at UD.
Liaison Essentials
- General Education ObjectivesLearn about the objectives addressed by courses in your department(s).
- UD Academic CalendarUse the academic calendar to help determine when it is appropriate to connect with faculty on courses for the upcoming semester.
- UD ClasstimesAvoid conflicting with class times when planning programming for your department.
- UD Classroom Technology | University Media ServicesSometimes you might be expected to teach in a room outside the Library. Consult this site as a guide of what you can expect in the classroom to plan accordingly.
- UD Academic Unit Policies | ProvostLearn about the bylaws and promotion and tenure guidelines for your department(s).
- UD Courses SearchImportant link to bookmark. The information here can help you plan activities, complete instruction statistics, and find out the dynamics of a course (i.e., honors students, blended graduate and undergraduate course, etc.).
- University Faculty SenateLearn about important developments on campus, such as new programs and colleges, changes to the curricula, etc.
- UD's Comparator InstitutionsLearning about liaision practices at the university's comparator institutions can inform your own.
- ACRL Standards for Information LiteracyThis link includes best information literacy practices in each discipline.
- ACRL Instruction SectionProvides pedagogical practices, discipline specific information for information literacy standards, and more.
- Subject Liaison Core Competencies, UDThis document highlights the basic core competencies and provides expectations for all subject liaisons at UD. In collaboration with supervisors, the document may be used to set goals each year. Subject liaisons should consistently work towards achieving basic levels of these competencies and excelling in them as they are building their skills and professional knowledge. (Summer 2021)
The following documents are guides, templates, best practices, and ideas for ways on how to communicate with faculty. They are examples of the types of information gathering and communication methods that have been used by other liaisons.
- Sample Department ProfileCreating department profiles can help you understand the various programs, areas of study, research, events, and more. It can also be a quick "cheat sheet" for information.
- Questions for Faculty/Department ChairsThis list provides potential questions to ask Department Chairs or Faculty when meeting for the first time. Some of these questions were taken from conversations with other Subject Liaisons at comparator institutions.
- Questions for Liaisons at Comparator InstitutionsIt can be helpful to connect with Librarians in similar positions at our comparator institutions to find new ideas and practices to bring to your position. It also helps to begin establishing connections with colleagues elsewhere to build a network of Librarians who you can turn to for help/advice.
- Sample Introductory EmailAfter formal introductions are made to departments, liaisons send an email introducing themselves personally, outlining their goals and responsibilities to the department. This email usually includes a request to meet in person with the department chair/faculty.
- Sample NewsletterCommunication with departments varies greatly. While there is no correct way to provide information, some liaisons have opted to send a newsletter to cut down on emails.
We have to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. As liaisons, our roles are sometimes ill-defined, and require a lot of work that does not always pay off which can lead to self-doubt and overwork that can cause burnout.
- LIS Mental HealthResource page
- Library Worklife NewsletterLibrary Worklife informs readers about issues – career advancement, certification, human resources practice, pay equity, recruitment, research, work/life balance – that concern all library workers.
Effective Practices
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Complete training related to LibGuides and apply local templates and standards related to content, layout, and accessibility.
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Actively participate in liaison discussion groups during your first semester.
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Find and establish the best communication style for your department and faculty. Some faculty like a newsletter format, some prefer social media, while others prefer traditional emails.
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Draft an introductory newsletter and request feedback from a peer or supervisor.
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Attend an initial meeting with Department Chair(s) and create a plan for reaching out to other key members of the department, such as undergraduate, graduate, or clinical coordinators in order to understand program goals, challenges, and needs. Anchor your plan in the library's strategic student success and partnership and collaboration goals.
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For those with instruction responsibilities, complete the Instruction Training Cohort program which includes a high level review of the curriculum in your department and disciplinary documents related to information literacy skills in your discipline.
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