Guidance for Library representatives
Library representatives are the principle channel of communication between academic departments and the Library. A close working relationship benefits students and academic staff alike, and ensures that the Library meets the information needs of the University community. This page outlines how we work with you to achieve this, and provides links through to more detailed guidelines (where available) that we ask that you share with your colleagues. We hope you find it useful and would welcome any ideas for improvement. Please contact Jane Harvell with your comments or suggestions for improving this page.
Library resources expenditure
You will be sent a statement on your department's library budget at intervals during the year. We may ask your advice on specific purchase suggestions (if appropriate).
Electronic resources
We requrie your assistance in raising awareness within your department, of the introduction of new resources, and in identifying interested parties to participate in the evaluation of both trial and existing resources.
Collection management
The purpose of the Library collections is to reflect the teaching and research interests of the whole University and we will be asking you to represent your department in stock selection / withdrawal processes, or alternatively to identify academic colleagues with whom we can work. Our goal is to draw up collection management policies for all broad subject areas in collaboration with academic colleagues thereby ensuring our resources are relevant and up to date. For more information on this please click here.
Library policies
The library regularly reviews and revises policies / procedures to improve efficiency. In your role as representative we need you to disseminate this information to your colleagues and also co-ordinate feedback to the Library from the department. This information may be related to anything ranging from the submission of reading lists to changes in Library opening hours.
New course provision
It is crucial that the Library is kept informed of new courses and the related resource requirements as soon as the course is given final approval so that we can discuss with you how to ensure that we have the resources in place for the start of the course. We want to work with you to establish a mechanism to achieve these aims.
Supporting research - the library representatives play a key role in keeping thel ibrary aware of the research activities in the departments. We need to understand the departmental research strategy to inform longer-term planning and to ensure that our electronic, print and other information resources and services are meeting research needs.