SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons · 183
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
KU Libraries’ Consultant Model |Appendix B
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APPENDIX B
KU Libraries’ Consultant Model: moving toward implementation
May 2014
Soon after the reorganization in 2013, the Libraries’ administration established an effort toward a
consultant model that would better enable the Libraries to respond to an ever-evolving academic
landscape. Ensuring our future relevance requires the Libraries to recast how we approach services to
our users we will focus on identifying and meeting the core research and information needs of the user,
regardless of the discipline from which that user comes.
In the initial development of the consultant model, a two-year timeline for transitions of duties was
established:
By July 2014, Research &Learning and Content Development personnel will transition away
from performance of reference desk duties, except where specific expertise is requested
By July 2015, Content Development personnel will transition away from performance of
instruction duties, except where specific expertise is requested
By July 2015, Research &Learning personnel will transition away from content development
duties
Much of the work of transitioning is already well underway. In as much as possible, the time to
complete these transitions is now, in order to address key issues raised during the focus group sessions
and prepare for a fall 2014 implementation.
What follows is set of considerations, developed by Assistant Deans Erin Ellis, Judith Emde and Beth
Whittaker, for defining the role of expertise in content development, instruction and reference, and
moving us closer to implementation of the consultant model. In order to formulate the most effective
transition to the consultant model, these ADs are seeking ideas and feedback about the successful
implementation of this transition from KU Libraries’ faculty and staff.
EXPERTISE
Expertise, both subject and functional, is currently widely distributed across the Libraries and it will
continue to be so. Subject expertise will continue to reside primarily within Content Development, for
the purpose of building and maintaining collections. Functional expertise is distributed among several
areas. The types of expertise and the distribution thereof are outlined below.
Content Development
History
Art (visual art and history of art) and architecture
Music (performing arts)
English literature
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