This document outlines Loughborough University Library's efforts to deepen engagement with academic schools through a library partnership model. It discusses establishing the need for improved consistency, shifting from a service to partnership focus, and benchmarking best practices. The proposed model aims to have academic librarians actively partner with schools in teaching and research, co-create annual action plans, and better align library and school strategies through activities like attending school meetings and collaborating on data analysis. The goal is to enhance support for teaching, research, and the student experience through strengthened relationships and a clearer communication of the library's offerings.

1. Deepening engagement
Alison Ashmore, Steph McKeating and Helen Young

2. • Why begin this journey?
• The route
• Where we are now
• Direction of future travel
A journey

3. The Landscape
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections
Library
Admin
Archives
Assistant Director
Support, Collections & Systems
Assistant Director
Academic & User Services
User
Services
Manager
Academic
Services
Manager
Director of Library Services

4. Engagement within the Library
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections

5. Engagement within the Library
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections
Institutional Repository Managers
Research Data Manager
Open Access enquiries & promotion
Research data deposits & enquiries
OA & RDM Staff & researcher training

6. Engagement within the Library
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections
Support Librarian
(Taught Course provision)
Reading list orders and enquiries
E-book support

7. Engagement within the Library
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections
User services team
Enquiry services
Communications and social media focus

8. Engagement within the Library
User
Services
Academic
Services
Open
Access
& RDM
Collections
Academic Librarians (7.5 FTE)
Departmental and generic teaching taught course, staff and researchers
Subject enquiries and enquiry desk support
Research support including metrics and publication strategy
Non-reading list materials selection and resources promotion
Cross-Library specialism
Copyright

9. • Quadrennial review
• Improved consistency
of offer across Schools
• Shift from service to
partnership
• Action planning
Why begin this journey?

10. The Route – the tools
Small “steering” group
1 yearCommunication

11. • Benchmarking
– Literature review
– Best practice at other institutions
• Gather input from our current
stakeholders
• Stakeholders – focus on
Academic Schools for Phase 1
• Renamed to Library partnership
model
CRM – what does it mean?

12. • Mapped current
engagement activities
• AST staff development
survey
• Data – what do we
collect vs use/need
GAP analysis

14. Library Partnership Model
Shared knowledge of
School vision and
strategy
Active partner in
teaching and
research
Co-creation &
delivery of
annual action plan
Resource teaching and
research effectively
Support student
experience & skills
Be integral to research
lifecycle and enhance
research impact
Improve understanding of
impact
Set objectives and target
resources
Provide evidence for
decision making
Align Library strategy to
School plans
Objective
Purpose
Key
Activities
 Established member of
SSLC
 Introductory meetings with
all new staff
 Introductory emails to all
new PGRs
 Visibility within the School
(e.g. Drop-ins)
 Inclusion of AL on School
website/noticeboard and
email lists
 Developed relationship
with LLO/key parties
Effective liaison and
advocacy
Provide clear and
consistent communication
and Library offer
Ensure positive and
productive relationships
Identify opportunities for
development & innovation
 Involvement in
programme & module
approval
 Minutes and/or
attendance at School LTC
& Research committees
 Annual meeting and
review of skills
development
 Annual consultation with
staff for refresher
sessions
 Attendance at School or
Dept meetings
 Access to School strategy
docs & plans
 Access to NSS/student
survey action plans
 Annual meeting with
Dean and/or ADR, ADT
 Attendance at School or
Dept away days
 Collation and review of
key Library data pertinent
to the School
 Audit and review of
curriculum teaching and
attendance at workshops
 Annual review meeting
and agreed action plan
with Dean
Be aware of student needs
& concerns
Share intelligence with
Library managers &
teams

15. Destination - success criteria
• Changes to the engagement
map - more green boxes
• Increased confidence levels for
team members
• Annual action plan – review of
objectives that have been set
• Improved NSS/PTES library
scores

16. • Evolution of the
model
• Do we need to be
‘members’ of a
School?
• Need for flexibility
Receiving directions

17. Library and Schools in Partnership
Shared knowledge of
School vision and
strategy
Active partner in
teaching and
research
Co-creation & delivery
of annual action
plan
To provide effective resources
for teaching and research,
support student skills, and
enhance research impact
To improve understanding of
Library impact and to target
efforts and resources to
support the School
To align Library strategy with
School plans and identify
opportunities for development
and innovation
Objective
Purpose
Key
activities
 AL to be an established
member of SSLCs; attend (or
receive minutes) relevant
meetings, such as DSMs;
included on School website &
local mailing lists
 AL to be actively engaged as
key Library contact (or co-
contact with LLO) within the
School for staff and students
Effective liaison and
advocacy
To provide a clear and
consistent offer and to develop
and maintain positive
relationships with the School
 School to ensure AL
awareness of new
programmes/modules
through meetings with ADT
and/or minutes of L&T
committee
 AL to do annual review of
skills teaching/research
support for the School and
discuss with ADT/ADR
 AL to have regular meetings
with ADR and ADT to discuss
School developments, impact
on Library and Library
support
 Annual meeting with
Academic Leadership Team
(Dean, ADR, ADT, poss .
ADE) to agree Library-School
priorities
 AL to collate and review
key Library data pertinent
to the School
 Annual meeting with
Academic Leadership
Team (Dean, ADR, ADT,
poss ADE) to discuss data
and agree Library/School
priorities (August/Sept)
Timeline
January February March April May June July August September October November December
PDR Serials
review
NSS/PTES
results
Library annual
report
Library teaching revision
Budget
confirmed
Planning meeting between
AL, ADT, ADR and Dean

18. • Within the Team
• Within the Library
• Within the Schools
Encouraging fellow travellers

19. The future

20. Contacts
• Alison Ashmore
– Academic Librarian MEME and Chemistry
– a.j.ashmore@lboro.ac.uk
• Steph McKeating
– Project Manager - Digital Fluency
– s.f.mckeating@lboro.ac.uk
• Helen Young
– Academic Services Manager
– h.young@lboro.ac.uk

21. Images
• Images used in the presentation are all from
Pixabay and required no attribution

22. Our outstanding campus
Largest single site green campus in the UK