Evolution of Library Liaisons, SPEC Kit 349

Miller, Rebecca K.; Pressley, Lauren

194 · Representative Documents: Program Evolution
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
UMass Amherst Libraries Librarian Engagement Framework: moving forward
W:\committes&wrkgrps\LiaisonCouncil\liaison responsibilities\librarian_engagement+program+v.3_042215 3
The Liaison Advisory Committee, charged to review new and existing librarian engagement
assignments, will take librarian expertise and preferences into consideration in making such
assignments. It should be noted though, that decisions about the requirements of the librarian’s role
are made first and foremost because of organizational needs. Personal preferences, therefore, cannot
always be satisfied.

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SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons (November 2015) resources

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194 · Representative Documents: Program Evolution
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
UMass Amherst Libraries Librarian Engagement Framework: moving forward
W:\committes&wrkgrps\LiaisonCouncil\liaison responsibilities\librarian_engagement+program+v.3_042215 3
The Liaison Advisory Committee, charged to review new and existing librarian engagement
assignments, will take librarian expertise and preferences into consideration in making such
assignments. It should be noted though, that decisions about the requirements of the librarian’s role
are made first and foremost because of organizational needs. Personal preferences, therefore, cannot
always be satisfied.

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SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons · 195
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
UMass Amherst Libraries Librarian Engagement Framework: moving forward
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Framework Values
Librarianship is collaborative by nature. The Libraries are an important hub, serving as the intellectual
nexus of the campus, engaging with our communities, and connecting them to a wealth of resources
and services, and to one another. Collections and services evolve through collaborations and
relationships. Above all, this Framework is dedicated to outreach, advocacy, and engagement,
supporting the campus goal of making UMass Amherst a destination and investment of choice. The
values that inform this Program include:
● Commitment to people, to a diversity of ideas, groups, and individuals, and to the
communities that comprise the University of Massachusetts and the Commonwealth
● Commitment to knowledge, intellectual freedom, life-long learning, and the principles of
higher education
● Commitment to our profession, placing a value on our integrity, high level of service, and our
professional values and ethics
● Commitment to one another, expressed through an inclusive and collaborative work
environment that prizes flexibility, innovation, creativity, personal initiative, and persistence.
● Commitment to embracing change by seeking out, learning about, and trying out new ideas
and technologies, in order to enrich and improve the education experience of our community
and ourselves.
Framework Outline
Outreach, advocacy, and engagement are the guiding principles and overarching foci of the
Framework and are expected of all librarians. Responsibilities and core activities include:
• Initiating and facilitating ongoing dialog with faculty and students about resource needs
and service expectations.
• Communicating regularly with faculty, students, and staff to develop and maintain strong
and productive working relationships.
• Speaking knowledgeably about and promoting library services and issues.
• Keeping current on curricular initiatives and proposed programmatic changes.
• Working closely with faculty and students to understand their changing workflows and
patterns of scholarly communication.
• Using data to inform support for faculty and students
Best practice examples:
o Meeting regularly (at least once per semester) with faculty in assigned areas.
o Participating in department meetings, activities, and events such as seminars, colloquia,
and conferences.
o Seeking professional development opportunities in areas of specialization (e.g.,
participating in scholarly societies and associations).

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SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons · 193
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
UMass Amherst Libraries Librarian Engagement Framework: moving forward
W:\committes&wrkgrps\LiaisonCouncil\liaison responsibilities\librarian_engagement+program+v.3_042215 2
The UMass Amherst Libraries Librarian Engagement Framework
UMass Amherst Libraries Liaison Program: moving forward
The Liaison Advisory Council (“LAC”) developed this document to serve as an internal guide to UMass
Librarians who serve in what we what we currently refer to as the Liaison Program.
The new name of this specific group, now to be called the Librarian Engagement Program, reflects
the Library’s goal to reach out and to actively participate in supporting teaching, learning, and
research efforts across the University campus. It is our intention, as well, that all UMass Amherst
librarians and staff will see themselves and their roles described to some extent, somewhere in this
document that all will identify with the values articulated here and will participate, to the extent that
is appropriate, in the broad range of activities described.
Background
Academic libraries have become more complex, offering services that are more diverse and
responsive to the significant changes that are affecting higher education. Academic libraries have re-
oriented the subject specialist/liaison librarian cohort from the traditional collections-focused role to a
teaching/learning and research enterprise role. This new model requires a more collaborative,
engaged approach that builds on expertise from across all units in the UMass Amherst Libraries
(Libraries) to blend librarian expertise more integrally into the teaching/learning workflow,
institutional objectives, and research practices of scholars, researchers, and students.
While we continue to provide traditional library support to faculty and students, we also now assist
users in interpreting the increasingly complex information infrastructure, of which the Libraries are
part.We are already actively engaged in the teaching, learning, and research enterprise. In so
doing, we play an important role in facilitating collaboration and collective action across disciplinary
and institutional boundaries.
Framework Purpose and Structure
The Framework foci below are intended as both a guide and a toolkit for librarians serving the UMass
Amherst community, defined as faculty, students, staff, and citizens of the Commonwealth. It describes
prospective librarian roles based on the Libraries’ and the University’s strategic plans. Librarians are
expected to use the Framework foci as a guide to identify opportunities, priorities, and specific
activities for respective constituencies.
The document consists of two main sections: the Values and the Outline. The Values apply to all
librarians, regardless of home department or functional role. The Outline describes responsibilities
and expectations along with ‘best practice examples’ to inform implementation strategies for core
engagement activities. These ‘best practice examples’ are not comprehensive. The purpose of the
Outline is to both give ideas about how to implement the program, and to show how the work of the
various departments are all integral to Librarian Engagement Framework..

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Page 9Survey Results click to expand contents

Page 101Representative Documents click to expand contents

Page 103Liaison Services click to expand contents

Page 111Position Descriptions click to expand contents

Page 129Responsibilities, Competencies, Goals click to expand contents

Page 165Program Evolution click to expand contents

Page 199Selected Resources click to expand contents

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