Developing Faculty Relationships - Some tips for librarians
Be visible
- Go to department seminars and lectures
- Audit a class
- Attend department social events, e.g., Fall welcome receptions
- Walk the halls
- Say "hi"
Keep current
- Get on department mailing list
- Join department e-mail group
- Read department publications (e.g., newsletter, alumni news, faculty meeting minutes)
Reach out
- Invite new faculty to lunch
- Make office calls -- by appointment
- Offer to speak at a faculty meeting
- Ask to be included in department orientation
- Send very occasional short e-mails filled with important news
Be a partner
- Give a concise list of the value of library instruction
- Ask where students are having difficulty
Understand
- Faculty time is in short supply!
- A negative response to your overture is not a personal rejection of you
- Working with faculty is a long-term effort. It takes time - usually several years
- There is no substitute for the relationship
