Implementing a Team-Based Liaison Model at Your Institution

Benefits and Requirements for Successful Implementation

Library liaisons are one of the biggest staff investments a university library makes. Yet, the return on that investment is, at best, uneven. Despite the significant investment, many institutions lack a clear vision for structuring their liaison positions. Consequently, many library liaisons end up operating in a siloed environment, with each liaison working very independently.

The siloed liaison model leads to a variety of problems. One of the most significant is multiple service methods existing side-by-side in one department with differing ideas of what success looks like. As an example, individual liaisons will spend different percentages of their effort on relationship-building versus collection management. The siloed model is difficult to manage and supervise.

The siloed library liaison model creates issues, including:

Uneven library services across academic departments, in terms of levels of service, strength of relationships, response times, and depth of expertise.

Library liaison turnover creates a grievous loss for the whole library.

Functional and technological specialists, working across liaisons, disciplines, schools, and departments, end up against the organizational grain in a college-based university system.

Further, a siloed library liaison model creates a challenge to articulate the value of liaisons to the university enterprise, aligning that value with university strategic priorities, and assessing the effectiveness of library liaison programs. At its worst, the siloed model can lead to an unproductive and negative work environment.

In a Team-based Library Liaison Model, positions are structured to foster and sustain relationships between the university library and campus stakeholders.

The benefits of the Team-based Library Liaison Model include:

One collective service model.

Goals, priorities, and the definition of success are clear and shared.

Everyone is given a leadership role.

Managers know what everyone is doing and can participate as team members.

Successes are shared by all; failures are shared by all.

Succession planning is built–in; relationships are shared so when a librarian leaves, there is no gap in service.

Everyone knows what everyone else is doing; liaisons can easily cover for each other.

Efficiencies are gained—a team can be more productive than an individual.

Communication is a core part of day-to-day work, which leads to a healthy work culture.

With its many benefits, universities are looking to transition to the Team-based Liaison Model. However, the transition presents leadership challenges.

Moving to a team-based model requires:

Identifying and defining shared values among team members.

Identifying and outlining shared priorities for advancing values.

Identifying and communicating shared standards of service excellence for priorities.

Trusting colleagues to meet agreed-upon standards.

Embracing vulnerability when asking for help to achieve standards.

Letting go of past work that no longer aligns with shared values or shared priorities.

Attain Partners’ library subject matter experts, Honora Eskridge and Alex Carroll, developed the Team-based Liaison Model, outlined in this ACRL Webinar: Team-based Subject Liaisons: A Model for Successful and Sustainable Engagement.

Together, Attain Partners’ SMEs and library management consulting experts developed a change management framework to help university libraries implement the Team-based Library Liaison Model at their institutions.

Learn More

No matter where you are in your liaison model transformation, we are here to help you achieve your goals and fully articulate your library services vision. Learn more about our Library Planning and Strategy services or contact us here.

About the Author

Hilary Craiglow is a Senior Manager at Attain Partners, leading our team of library strategists to strengthen library systems. With extensive experience leading academic and research libraries, Hilary has a deep understanding of college and university systems. She is a strategic and visionary administrator, melding rich library traditions with innovative forward-thinking services. As a data and mission-driven leader, she employs proven evaluation and assessment methods and creates organizational transformation through empathy and partnership. Hilary helps library leaders achieve their mission faster, more efficiently, and with greater impact.