A Letter to the WUSM Community about the Liaison Program
April 14, 2005
Dear WUSM Community,
This brief letter is to introduce you to the Becker Medical Library’s new Library Liaison Program. The library’s success in providing easy online access to our extensive collection of resources has begun to erode the personal relationships with our faculty previously enjoyed by the library. This unfortunate side effect of providing more efficient service has created a communications gap between the library and the faculty it serves. As this gap widens, the faculty become under-informed of new library resources and services and the library begins losing touch with the needs of the faculty.
To avoid this situation the library is establishing a liaison program which partners a librarian with a specific department, division or program. These liaisons will become familiar with the wants and needs of their constituency, work with faculty and staff to leverage library resources and services, and ensure there is an open communication pathway between the library and its users. Above all, we hope that the library liaison becomes a familiar and welcomed member of the groups they serve. The knowledge these liaisons bring back to the library will form the basis for future services and resources.
Enclosed with this letter are the names and assignments of the library liaisons.
The official launch of this program is during the April 19th Library Symposium. Some of the liaisons have already been in contact with their assigned groups; others will be in contact soon. We are continually striving to improve the library and the services it provides in support of the teaching, research and patient care missions of the medical school. I believe this program will be a significant benefit to both the library and faculty members and I hope that you encourage your faculty to use and challenge their liaisons.
Respectfully yours,
Paul Schoening
Associate Dean for Academic Information Management
Director, Bernard Becker Medical Library
HIPAA Security Officer
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