Tisch Library Journal Salon: Improving cross-departmental communication via informal professional development

Abstract

Effective communication across departments in academic libraries can be challenging, but the literature discussing this issue and potential solutions is sparse. In an attempt to address these issues, we implemented a library-wide Journal Salon at our institution not only to facilitate learning and knowledge sharing, but to create the opportunity for staff to discuss research and trends in our profession. In order to evaluate the impact of the salon, we surveyed participants to learn how they kept up with research, to learn more about how cross-departmental communication had been occurring, and to understand the the impact of the salon. We found that the majority of participants feel that barriers to communicating with colleagues do exist, and that those who have navigated these barriers have done so by making an individual, interpersonal effort. While changes to communication take time, the survey responses suggest that our Journal Salon is a promising venue to facilitate interpersonal connections between staff who don’t interact on a regular basis.