New Collaboration Methods for Laboratory Liaisons

Published

June 1, 2006

Author(s)

Nancy Allmang, Mylene S. Ouimette, Lea Wade

Abstract

Three years ago the Information Services Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated a library-laboratory liaison program. In the programs early years the liaisons performed in-depth research and analyses, worked with researchers to build the collections, and addressed issues related to training and accessing resources. Since that time the program has expanded and liaisons have developed new and creative means of communicating with customers. This poster highlights some new collaboration methods. Liaisons have become embedded members of three formal scientific working groups, developed a comprehensive bibliography of over 1,100 customer-authored publications for the period 2000-2004, and procured direct funding to secure additional access to library resources in a field new to the organization. They ve conducted two important surveys--one to identify core journals for 42 working units separately and for the organization as a whole, and the second a focus group assessment of 4 interdisciplinary groups whose information needs had been difficult to define. Other liaison projects: development of a unique analysis method to gauge the impact of publications authored by lab members, including proceedings papers and journal articles; collaboration with laboratories in assembling a timeline with descriptions of important achievements; consultation with lab members on the preparation of a major lab publication. Plans are currently under way to identify means of bringing cross-disciplinary researchers together for networking purposes, a need articulated by focus group participants.

Proceedings Title

ACRL Science and Technology Section of ALA Annual Conference 2006 | | | ALA

Conference Dates

June 24-27, 2006

Conference Title

ALA Annual Conference

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

laboratory liaisons, liaison collaboration, liaison outreach, liaison program, library focus groups, Library liaisons, publications analysis

Citation

Allmang, N. , Ouimette, M. and Wade, L. (2006), New Collaboration Methods for Laboratory Liaisons, ACRL Science and Technology Section of ALA Annual Conference 2006 | | | ALA (Accessed December 11, 2024)