SPEC Kit 349: Evolution of Library Liaisons · 45
It is a primary responsibility for librarians who are liaisons, but not for other librarians, as those who work in technical
and automated services.
Liaison activities are also secondary for some librarians, depending on how many subjects they are covering and how
much work those subject are. Also, not all librarians are liaisons, so for some, it’s not a responsibility at all. For support
staff especially, it’s usually only a very small part of their job to provide liaison support.
Liaison activities are primary for most librarians who do liaison activities, but secondary to a few with
functional responsibilities.
Liaison activities are the primary responsibility of subject specialists in our Liaison Services Department.
Liaison activities connect with all core responsibilities, such as reference, collection development, and instruction, so in
that sense it is primary.
Liaisons activities are only primary responsibilities for public service librarians. About 2/3 of our librarians have
liaison roles.
Most liaison librarians have this work as a primary assignment, but some assist with liaison coverage on a secondary
assignment basis (we lack enough librarians to cover all areas as thoroughly as we might wish).
Not all faculty librarians are liaisons. Above table is applicable only to liaison librarians.
Note that for the archivist, liaison responsibilities are a secondary role. However, will be a primary role for
the bioinformationist.
Primary for the subject liaisons
Some librarians have liaison work as their primary responsibility, while others do not, so it is not really possible to answer
this category accurately. See comment regarding portfolios, above. Also, in the case of Other Staff, those who work with
liaisons do so in the capacity of assisting informally, rather than have this as a primary, or even secondary, responsibility.
The allocation of liaison responsibilities varies from position to position.
The core liaison activities of outreach and collection development are generally secondary responsibilities for all
librarians. The additional services of instruction, reference assistance, and research consultations are primary
responsibilities of Reference &Instruction librarians, based on their job descriptions.
These answers apply only to the subject specialists. We have many librarians and staff who have no responsibility for
liaison activities, e.g., metadata or acquisitions people, and those in management positions.
This question is ambiguous. Liaison activities are the primary responsibility for the librarians and staff assigned those
duties, but not for others.
This varies by liaison and/or discipline. For most, liaison activities are a primary responsibility, but for some it is
secondary or lower.
This varies by position description, not by type of position.
Though we have many who are liaison librarians in a secondary role, we do have librarians whose primary role is as
a liaison. Librarians whose primary role is as a liaison work in generally large colleges/departments with extensive
acquisitions budgets and demand for services.
Varies among individuals.
It is a primary responsibility for librarians who are liaisons, but not for other librarians, as those who work in technical
and automated services.
Liaison activities are also secondary for some librarians, depending on how many subjects they are covering and how
much work those subject are. Also, not all librarians are liaisons, so for some, it’s not a responsibility at all. For support
staff especially, it’s usually only a very small part of their job to provide liaison support.
Liaison activities are primary for most librarians who do liaison activities, but secondary to a few with
functional responsibilities.
Liaison activities are the primary responsibility of subject specialists in our Liaison Services Department.
Liaison activities connect with all core responsibilities, such as reference, collection development, and instruction, so in
that sense it is primary.
Liaisons activities are only primary responsibilities for public service librarians. About 2/3 of our librarians have
liaison roles.
Most liaison librarians have this work as a primary assignment, but some assist with liaison coverage on a secondary
assignment basis (we lack enough librarians to cover all areas as thoroughly as we might wish).
Not all faculty librarians are liaisons. Above table is applicable only to liaison librarians.
Note that for the archivist, liaison responsibilities are a secondary role. However, will be a primary role for
the bioinformationist.
Primary for the subject liaisons
Some librarians have liaison work as their primary responsibility, while others do not, so it is not really possible to answer
this category accurately. See comment regarding portfolios, above. Also, in the case of Other Staff, those who work with
liaisons do so in the capacity of assisting informally, rather than have this as a primary, or even secondary, responsibility.
The allocation of liaison responsibilities varies from position to position.
The core liaison activities of outreach and collection development are generally secondary responsibilities for all
librarians. The additional services of instruction, reference assistance, and research consultations are primary
responsibilities of Reference &Instruction librarians, based on their job descriptions.
These answers apply only to the subject specialists. We have many librarians and staff who have no responsibility for
liaison activities, e.g., metadata or acquisitions people, and those in management positions.
This question is ambiguous. Liaison activities are the primary responsibility for the librarians and staff assigned those
duties, but not for others.
This varies by liaison and/or discipline. For most, liaison activities are a primary responsibility, but for some it is
secondary or lower.
This varies by position description, not by type of position.
Though we have many who are liaison librarians in a secondary role, we do have librarians whose primary role is as
a liaison. Librarians whose primary role is as a liaison work in generally large colleges/departments with extensive
acquisitions budgets and demand for services.
Varies among individuals.
