The University of Sheffield
The University Library

1. Library Liaison


Description of Service

Working in partnership between members of the Learning and Research Services Team and departmental staff and students to ensure a full exchange of ideas that enable the delivery of the highest-quality services to support learning, teaching and research within the availability of University resources.

Client Groups/Eligibility for Services

All staff and students of the University. Liaison can take place through formal (e.g. Staff Student Committees, Teaching Committees) or informal mechanisms, with professional services and with the Union of Students and the Union Links.

Provider Responsibility

To ensure that communication takes place at all levels between the Library and the Department and, as necessary, the Faculty, and that all issues raised are considered in a professional manner to the benefit of staff, students and researchers. In undertaking this responsibility, Faculty Liaison Librarians and Academic Liaison Librarians will undertake specific duties such as:
  1. Ensuring a Library Planning Statement is written for the Department and/or Faculty
  2. Explaining and pro-actively encouraging uptake of the full and changing range of services to support learning, teaching and research
  3. Ensuring balance of expenditure between journals, books and document delivery and monitoring spend of the subject funds
  4. Delivering information literacy
  5. Regularly communicating with the Departmental Library Coordinator to review Library services to the Department

User Responsibility

Departments are required to:
  • Nominate a Departmental Library Coordinator
  • Contribute and agree to the final version of the departmental Library Planning Statement and then implement the actions
  • Inform the Library of new academic developments such as new modules and research areas where there are implications for Library services

Availability of Service

Normally during core service hours.

Service Statistics/Outputs

Production of a Library Planning Statement and an annual review in Semester 1 reflecting on National Student Survey and Student Satisfaction Survey statistics. Where a Library Planning Statement has not yet been written, a report will be produced from an annual review meeting between the Faculty/Academic Liaison Librarian and Departmental staff, including the Departmental Library Coordinator.

Service Measures

None.

Dependencies

Workload within Departments.

Feedback and Monitoring

National Student Survey and Student Satisfaction Survey statistics for the Department and the Faculty
Staff Student Committees
Union Links
Library surgeries and blogs

Benchmarking

None.

Location of Service

Learning and Research Services Team

Contact Details

denise.harrison@sheffield.ac.uk