Liaison Librarians in the Know: Methods for Discovering Faculty Research and Teaching Needs

Libraries constantly seek information from their faculty partners on what, precisely, is needed from the library to support their teaching and research needs. This paper uses a case study from the University of South Florida (USF) as a framework to explore methods for determining the curriculum and research needs of faculty across disciplinary boundaries and ways for promoting library resources and services to departments across campus. Using syllabus analysis, website analysis, focus groups, and interviews, this project sought to evaluate faculty needs without relying on surveys. The data gathered from this case study will allow the liaisons at the University of South Florida to better serve and support the evolving needs of faculty and will also provide a framework and methodology for liaisons at other institutions to determine the specific needs of faculty at their universities.