1. Collaborative Development of a Web Knowledgebase for a Liaison Program: “Back to the Future” Holly Harden, MLIS, Liaison Librarian Kathleen B. Oliver, MSLS, MPH, Associate Director for Communication and Liaison Services Tina Otter, MLIS, Reference Librarian Ming Zhu, MIS, Web Development Programmer William H. Welch Medical Library Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland

2. Outline Liaison program background and goals Collaborative elements and database development Database life cycle Knowledgebase and management tool

3. Liaison Program Background Issues –Desktop delivery of information –Library gate count declines –Users need librarian expertise –Library needs user input on products and services

4. Liaison Program Background Liaison program established to address issues Structured for outreach to users –Each department assigned a liaison –Liaison committee formed Seven Librarians One scientific editor & educator

5. Liaison Program Goals Communicate about library services, resources, and programs Listen to faculty, students, and staff Identify information needs Report back on findings Build relationships

6. Who’s involved? Small number of liaisons Large number of clients

7. The Challenge Internal information sharing Program monitoring Program development Program management

8. A Solution Build a database of liaison contacts and activity!

9. Collaborative Elements Who –Librarians –Web developers Importance of alliance Creation of new knowledge “ Many heads are better than one”

10. Collaborative Elements Database development needs assessment –Purpose of database –Goals of liaison program –Model representation of liaison work process

11. Collaborative Elements Development meetings –Demonstrations –Live Q&A sessions –Online Q&A (e-mail) –Testing, feedback, analysis, improvement

12. Liaison Database Life Cycle Liaison program requirements definition Software requirements definition –Oracle database software –Cold Fusion Web application –Architectural design Detailed design and construction –Coding and debugging Delivery to the user Operations

13. Information Architecture Liaison User Cold Fusion Application Server Oracle Database Server Data Transaction Web Server

14. Design History Documentation and content Generating reports Descriptive terms for contact categories User interface

15. Functionality and Usability Convenient and user friendly –Add a contact “on the fly” –Multiple staff selection –Sorting options

16. Original Add a Contact Screen

17. Current Add a Contact Screen

18. Statistical Reporting Screen

19. Report screenshot Statistical Report Result Screen

20. Search Contacts by Training Category

21. Search Results: Sorted by Date

22. Search Results: Sorted by Department

23. Database Development Continuous evolution Continuous collaboration Continuous use identifies further development The liaison knowledgebase develops as the liaison program evolves and new needs are identified.

24. Conclusion Knowledgebase for liaisons Management data for other library functions –Budget justification –Meeting background Data for program evaluation & development