Dangerous liaisons?. Defining the faculty liaison librarian service model, its effectiveness and sustainability
| Pages | 116-124 |
| Date | 10 January 2008 |
| Published date | 10 January 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120810844694 |
| Author | John Rodwell,Linden Fairbairn |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Dangerous liaisons?
Defining the faculty liaison librarian service
model, its effectiveness and sustainability
John Rodwell
The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, and
Linden Fairbairn
Fisher Library, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – Many university libraries are adopting a faculty liaison librarian structure as an integral
part of their organization and service delivery model. This paper aims to examine, in a pragmatic way,
the variations in the definition of the role of the faculty liaison librarian, the expectations of those
librarians, their library managers and their clients and the impact of environmental factors. The
faculty liaison librarian role is not entirely new, evolving from the traditional subject librarian and
university special/branch library role. However the emerging role is characterized by a more
outward-looking perspective and complexity, emphasizing stronger involvement and partnership with
the faculty and direct engagement in the University’s teaching and research programs.
Design/methodology/approach – Following a review of the literature and other sources on the
rationale and role of library liaison, the current developments, drivers and expectations are discussed.
Findings – The study finds that dynamic external and internal environments of universities are
driving the evolution of library liaison, so the role description is still fluid. However, the breadth and
weight of expectations is now such that the effectiveness and sustainability of the role has to be
addressed.
Practical implications – While a dynamic, broader and more intensive role for the faculty liaison
librarian is emerging, more thinking is needed about the extent of that role and its sustainability.
What, for example, are the priorities for the faculty liaison librarian? What traditional activities can,
and may, have to be abandoned? These considerations are necessary not only to guide the librarians,
but also to help define the attributes and skills required for the position and to determine the
institutional support it requires.
Originality/value – This is a contemporary critique of the well-established, but diverse library
service – the faculty liaison librarian structure.
Keywords Academic libraries, Librarians, Academicstaff, Communication, Partnership
Paper type General review
Introduction
Faced with multiple challenges to their historical role as the major provider of
information resources in a university, mostly based on the pervasiveness of digital
technology, university libraries are attempting to redefine their core activities to
maintain their relevance. New activities and services include providing quality
learning spaces, creating metadata, virtual reference services, information lite racy,
selecting and managing resource licenses, collecting and digitizing archival materials,
and maintaining digital repositories (Campbell, 2006). However, as Campbell (2006,
p. 20) opinions, as a group these activities do not amount to a fundamental purpose for
the academic library. To define a role for the present and future, one broad approach
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
LM
29,1/2
116
Received 3 April 2007
Accepted 20 May 2007
Library Management
Vol. 29 No. 1/2, 2008
pp. 116-124
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120810844694
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