Page 59 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Information Sources and Services

Notes 14. ................................... develop, troubleshoot and maintain library systems, including the
library catalogue and related systems.
15. ................................... are those patrons that look to library services to give them direction
and guidance toward recreation, education and emancipation.

Case Study Embedded Librarians Showcase Skills and Resources
in Unique Community Partnerships

ibraries are constantly evolving to adapt to the needs and desires of our users. Most
of these changes have occurred inside our buildings, from obtaining cutting-edge
Ltechnology to providing self-service and redesigned spaces. While these changes
have been vital, they have failed to increase our presence in the community. How can we
truly demonstrate our value to our communities beyond our physical/virtual space,
programming, outreach, and materials?

Jamie LaRue, library director for Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries (DCL), asked his
librarians this question. LaRue envisions a future where the librarian and the library are
a central hub of the community. Librarians have the power to change lives and build
community—but to do this, we have to leave our desks, leave our buildings, and show the
community what a powerful tool we are. LaRue firmly believes that the library’s most
powerful asset is its professional staff. He wants librarians interacting with the community,
answering their questions, informing their discussions, and helping them—as partners—
achieve their goals. These opportunities will not find us; we have to seek them.
Traditional reference questions are not coming into the library as they have in the past,
and yet those questions continue to be raised by participants in community group meetings.
Community reference involves sending librarians out into the community to work closely
with groups and conduct onsite reference interviews, as needed, to discover and answer
their questions. This process helps our librarians stay informed on the needs, goals, and
direction of the community, allowing us to showcase our skills and services in a new way.
We know that librarians are passionate about reference and research and are well-suited
to provide expert research assistance at little or no additional cost to the community. Now
it is up to us to demonstrate that. Librarians are uniquely trained to inform the conversations
that are happening all around us, just outside our doors. All we have to do is get involved.
As Douglas County Libraries grappled with this concept, a small group of staff was selected
to address the most prevalent concerns: What does community reference look like? Can
we make this into something that truly adds value to the community? We discovered that
to create something strategic, impactful, relationship-centred, and part of our everyday
duties we needed to follow three simple guidelines: Show up, pay attention, and stay in
touch.
Show up: Embedding our librarians
Embedding librarians in local organizations is the cornerstone of community reference.
Assignments for embedded librarians vary from branch to branch so as to strategically
target organizations that will provide the greatest partnership opportunities. DCL staff
are embedded throughout the county in local schools, city councils, metro districts,
economic development councils, and even a local women’s crisis centre. Not only can
embedded librarians attend meetings, inform discussions, and answer community

Contd....

54 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY