Reaching university students via partnerships with non-academic departments

Abstract

Though libraries have long formed important relationships with academic departments via liaison librarians, the time has come to “sell” library services through non-academic departments via mutually beneficial partnerships. Partnerships with non-academic departments can be instrumental in reaching students who do not seek assistance from the library but who need it. By forming a win-win partnership with departments such as Career Services, Student Affairs, Counseling Services and others, use of library resources and the number of students served increases. The partnerships can also result in an improved standing of the library in the campus community.

This paper provides examples of successful partnerships with measured outcomes that demonstrate the win-win of such partnerships.