New Directions for Academic Liaison Librarians

Dr Alice Crawford is Senior Academic Liaison Librarian at the University of St Andrews Library. She has been librarian of a further education college, a subject librarian at Glasgow University Library, and worked in areas as diverse as Special Collections, Divinity, Engineering and Official Publications. She has also enjoyed earlier careers in university administration and teaching. A Chartered Librarian, she has published a research monograph on the novelist Rose Macaulay as well as articles on librarianship.

• List of abbreviationsAcknowledgementsAbout the authorChapter 1: IntroductionAbstractKey wordsWhat does academic liaison mean?From subject librarian to academic liaison?Subject librarians ‘plus’Overview of the bookChapter 2: Liaison in the wider world: a medical librarian in MalawiAbstract:Background to the projectInitial impressionsWorking with the libraryNetworking and liaisonPost-project activitiesLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 3: Liaison and bibliometric support: the UK Research Assessment ExerciseAbstract:Background to the project: what is the RAE?Library contribution to the RAE: the Glasgow University experienceProcess detailsOpportunities for the libraryThe institutional repository: EnlightenThe role of liaisonLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 4: Liaison and virtual worldsAbstract:Virtual worldsTeaching a course in Second Life: the librarian’s roleTeaching the teachers in Second LifeVirtual worlds teaching: pros and consThe Karuna Island ProjectOther virtual worlds roles for librarians?Lessons learned for similar projectsChapter 5: Liaison and digital scholarshipAbstract:The Australian Poetry Library, University of SydneyGlasgow Emblem Digitisation Project, University of GlasgowMark Twain Papers and Project, California Digital LibraryLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 6: Liaison and open access journalsAbstract:Background to the project: the Institutional RepositoryThe journals projectSet-up and production stagesThe liaison roleFuture plansLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 7: Liaison and community outreach: a Friends of the Library groupAbstract:Setting up the groupProgramme of eventsFinance and administrationKing James Library LecturesLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 8: Liaison and library buildingsAbstract:Background to the projectProject developmentThe liaison roleFundraisingLibrary involvement in the designLessons learned for similar projectsChapter 9: ConclusionAbstract:The changing role of the liaison librarianEmbedded librarianshipThe future for academic liaison?Academic liaison in the Arts: a personal viewCase study round-upReferences and further readingIndex

"Whilst not advocating the abandonment of information literacy or any of the other essentials in the librarian’s toolkit, the book actively promotes the development and extension of new skills to engage in a more collaborative way with the academic community…This short book is enjoyable and recommended to both new academic librarians and those with many years of experience for its mixture of inspiration and practical advice."--The Australian Library Journal, Vol. 62, No. 4, 2013