SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons · 21
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
The SPEC Survey on the Evolution of Library Liaisons was designed by Rebecca K. Miller, Head of
Library Learning Services at Pennsylvania State University Libraries, and Lauren Pressley, Director of the
University of Washington Tacoma Library and Associate Dean of University Libraries at the University of
Washington. These results are based on 72 responses from 70 of the 124 ARL member libraries (57%) by the
deadline of August 12, 2015. The survey’s introductory text and questions are reproduced below, followed by
the response data and selected comments from the respondents.
As research libraries develop new directions and priorities in response to changing needs of the students, faculty, researchers, and
staff at their institutions, the role of library liaisons continues to shift and evolve. Library liaisons traditionally have helped support
academic departments, faculty, and students through outreach and communication, teaching one-shot instruction sessions, offering
customized research consultations, and participating in disciplinary collection development. However, in her 2014 report Leveraging
the Liaison Model, Anne Kenney writes that many research libraries are beginning “to shift the focus away from the work of
librarians to that of scholars and to develop engagement strategies based on their needs and success indicators” (p. 4). Overall,
Kenney notes that the current liaison model simply does not meet the needs of the twenty-first century university and research
library. While many libraries are developing new strategies for evolving their liaison programs in order to meet new challenges in
research, scholarship, and engagement, there are unanswered questions about how successful, impactful, and effective liaison
programs can be developed and supported.
The purpose of this survey is to gather data about the evolving role of the library liaison and the shifting goals and strategies of
liaison programs at ARL member libraries. In particular, this survey will identify emerging trends and themes in the changes occurring
in the library liaison model and attempt to discover the factors that influence these changes on an institutional level. Because each
institution and its needs are unique, this survey focuses on not only the specific changes occurring in liaison programs, but also the
general conditions that contribute to both the need and support for these changes.
The evolving liaison model is a critical component in ARL member libraries’ ability to meet the broad challenges of today’s research
libraries and take advantage of opportunities to move in new strategic directions. This survey will contribute to library leaders’ ability
to support their surrounding community in new ways by providing data points, examples, and trends that will contribute to the
growth and direction of liaison services.
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