2018 Charleston Library Conference

"We invite liaison librarians of all types and experience levels to join us for a lively discussion of the trends, opportunities, and challenges we are facing. Vendors are welcome to participate and learn more about the work of liaisons. The discussion will be led by a supervisor of liaisons (and a liaison herself), a new liaison, and a veteran liaison.

After introductions by all participants, we will first discuss workload issues: How do we manage? Have you been able to cut other work or responsibilities in response, and if so, how? Are there other tips or tricks for managing how overextended liaisons can get? After discussing these questions in small groups, we will ask the small groups to summarize their ideas to the large group.

In the second round of discussions, we will divide into small groups organized by specific topics or challenges mentioned during the introductions. (The moderators will have taken notes during the introductions, and will make suggestions for the topic groups.) Topics might include emerging liaison roles, training needs, outreach to faculty, how liaisons should be organized and supervised, balancing functional liaison roles with subject liaison roles, etc. Each small group will be asked to share ideas, frustrations, and success stories, and then summarize their discussions with the large group for a final round of large group sharing.

Participants to this lively discussion should come away with new ideas for liaison work, confirmation that we are not alone in facing certain challenges, and perhaps even a new mentor or peer-mentors. Bring your virtual or paper business cards as well as ideas and stories to share."