Demonstrating library impact: Liaison assessment

Abstract

Instruction, reference, and collection development have been the core pillars of traditional liaison librarianship, but in recent years, roles have expanded. Liaisons are increasingly expected to be well-versed about scholarly communication, able to troubleshoot the ever-changing landscape of technology, guide faculty to the best Open Educational Resources (OER), and more. As expectations continue to increase and budgets continue to decrease, two questions become clear: What does it mean to be an effective liaison? How can liaison work aid in demonstrating library impact? Considerations for assessing liaison impact are included, both at the programmatic and individual levels. Included is a framework for individual assessment that includes best practices for both traditional and emerging focus areas of liaisonship: Engagement, Teaching and Learning, Collection Development and Management, Research Support, and Scholarly Communication and Digital Initiatives. The framework encourages proactivity, and is designed to mesh with systems of tenure and promotion. Discussion includes considerations for implementing at one's own institution including institutional context, liaison roles and priorities, and appropriate data streams and their collection.