Assessment of library liaison programs

Abstract

Session Format: Lighting talks by three librarians interspersed with facilitated small group breakout activities and discussion. Objective: This session aims to further the conversation about the evolving nature of liaison roles and duties. Through activities, attendees will explore differences in liaison roles and examine the evolution of the liaison librarian in health sciences libraries. Facilitated activities provide an opportunity to brainstorm and discuss what’s next for the role of the liaison librarian. Attendees will share information about ways to assess liaison duties and gain insights that further develop their familiarity with functional support models and other methods to support library users.Instructional Methods: Lightning talks will present background information on three topics relevant to liaison models. The attendees will further explore these topics through inquiry-based learning activities. Using a participant-centered teaching approach, attendees will work collaboratively with information related to the lightning talk topic, summarize and categorize this information, arrive at questions based on their own experience that further elucidate the content, and then synthesize group findings by sharing back finding with all participants. Facilitators will float among the tables to provide guidance on all activities. Participant Engagement: Participants will be asked to respond to lightning talks through a combination of facilitated small group activities and discussion based on Liberating Structures activity plans. During the activities and discussion, participants will record notes and takeaways into a shared online document that will combine across all groups and will be shared with participants and broader MLA membership after the conference as a follow-up.