1. 8 January 2010 Academic Liaison at the University of Sussex Up close and personal Joanna Ball Research Liaison Manager University of Sussex

2. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Why liaison is so important How liaison works at the University of Sussex What makes liaison work (or not…)

3. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Why liaison is important To find out what our users want To make sure they know about what we have to offer To provide a go-between role – bridging the gap between the library and its users To build collections and services focused on user needs To manage expectations

4. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Academic Liaison @ Sussex New structure established in October 2005 Traditional subject librarians replaced with two teams: -Learning and Teaching Support -Research Liaison Heads of Department each appoint an academic to act as library representative

5. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Learning and Teaching Support Ensure that all students on taught courses have access to materials and skills they need, through -Information literacy sessions -Provision of reading list material and management of departmental book budgets -Management of enquiry service

6. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Research Liaison Library’s point of contact for all postgraduate researchers, ensuring that they are supported with necessary resources and skills -Work with departments to identify research interests to inform collection building -Develop core journal collection -Trial, evaluate and acquire electronic resources to support research -Provide group and individual training for doctoral students and academics

7. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Functional roles: benefits Structure of academic liaison mirrors University strategic management Allows for a consistent and systematic service across all subjects Teams provide support for each other at busy times Needs of researchers are specifically addressed

8. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Functional roles: drawbacks Lack of subject specialism and its impact upon service quality Detrimental effect on collection development Departments no longer have their “own” librarian

9. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge What makes liaison work?

10. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Get to know your users Understand the differences between your various user groups Keep up-to-date with their concerns Take any excuse to communicate Anticipate changes that could impact upon collections and services

11. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Be flexible Be prepared to tailor your service to meet needs Look for ways to develop your service in future Don’t be afraid to experiment!

12. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Get out of the library Go where your users are Hold training sessions in departments or offices Advertise new resources and services on main institutional websites Get involved in established training programmes and communication channels Never turn down an invitation

13. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Demonstrate your expertise Subject knowledge – if you’ve got it, flaunt it Show you know about issues that concern academics -Impact -Managing data -Open access publishing -Copyright

14. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Act as translator -Reciprocal access scheme -Resource list -Information literacy -Using other libraries -Reading list -Research skills Ensure you speak in a language your academics can understand and relate to

15. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Accept the inevitable Libraries are process-based, academic minds aren’t: choose who you liaise with carefully Some academics prefer to learn from each other than approach the library No collection or service will meet everyone’s needs all of the time Managing expectations is becoming increasingly important

16. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Summary Liaison role will become increasingly important as visits to the library increasingly become virtual rather than physical As resources shrink, relationships between the library and its academics will become more inter-dependent We need to develop new forms of communication

17. 8 January 2010 libraries@cambridge Joanna Ball Research Liaison Manager j.e.ball@sussex.ac.uk