2014 Charleston Library Conference

Many libraries have liaison programs: librarians working with academic units with some level of responsibility for collection development and management. The role of liaisons in collections continues to change. Much of the collection is now determined by external decisions, including state and consortium purchases, ebook and ejournal packages, demand driven acquisitions, and collections of free/open access resources. In some libraries, fund allocations have been eliminated or reduced in amount and importance; adding new continuing resources requires justification, compromise, and a collective decision making process.

Liaisons are challenged to find new ways to work with department faculty on collection questions and to bring department input into library collection decision making processes. Liaisons may need help gathering information to provide lists of library resources in a subject area or details about pricing, licensing, and content of resources required for new programs. Liaisons must educate faculty about different collection models, and explain package restrictions that limit canceling and adding subscriptions. Unforeseen price increases, journal transfers, and removal from aggregator databases or state-wide collections may suddenly make a key resource unavailable and complicate the relationship between librarian and department faculty. Liaisons also work with faculty on bound journal and monograph weeding projects.

Ferris State University Library is working on two related projects: an updated definition of our liaison program and a comprehensive collection management plan. These projects highlight the changing role of library liaisons within collections and the variety of responses to these changes. We want to share and learn more with other librarians. In our session we will collectively decide which changes to talk about. We will call on others to share experiences and ideas. We will gain a better understanding of the current role of liaison librarians in collection development and management, and ideas about how to respond to future changes.