The document provides guidance for library professionals on how to effectively connect with faculty and students in a university setting. It emphasizes the importance of being proactive in building relationships, engaging in departmental activities, and utilizing various online tools to gather information about faculty and students. The key takeaway is to be present, show genuine interest, and advocate for the needs of researchers and students within the academic community.

1. Profiling Science FacultyPatti C. McCall, MA, MLS Science Librarian University of Central Florida
(and Law & Order junky)

2. It’s going to require some detective work……..
“I need to use my most important investigative
tool. My library card.” Detective Goren (NYPD
detective and son of a librarian)
The Basics—DepartmentalWebpages
• Faculty bios
• Research interests
• Publications
• CV
• Syllabi
• Office Hours
• Research Group
• Departmental Events

3. Professional Associations?
It’s not all aboutALA or SLA. Get involved with the local chapter and get to know your faculty!

4. You can often find student groups on
Facebook. Ask if you can attend a
meeting and introduce yourself. Get
to know your students, not just your
faculty.
• Student chapter of the American
Chemical Society
• Society of Physics Students
• Astronomy Society at UCF
• Physics Women Society
• UCF Forensics Society
Don’t Forget Student Groups!
Take your information and your services straight to your students!
I read an article on the
Internet. Did you know a
hundred million words get
added to that damn thing
every day?

5. Some simple internet sleuthing (or some might call it
stalking—HA!) can reveal all sort of interesting
info….publications, professional activities, hobbies, arrest
records (often entertaining but not recommended for
discussion)………..
Getting in touch via LinkedIn is a great way to connect
and stay updated on faculty activities.
Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Web of Science, etc……….
Det. Lennie Briscoe: Boy, I'd hate for somebody
to trace me by what I read.
Det. Rey Curtis: You read, Lennie?
Don’t forget ratemyprofessor.com Lots of disgruntled students aside, you may
learn helpful information about a faculty member’s quirks (doesn’t use email, is slow
to respond, eager to share knowledge, hates technological gadgets like Lennie Briscoe)
that can inform you interactions.

6. Be a proactive sleuth (snoop, investigator, operative) and attend departmental events. Get into the
minds of your subjects!
• Show that the work of your faculty and students matters to YOU and learn about your department.
• You don’t need to be a scientist to make an effort to learn the needs of you researchers and what tools
researchers need.
• Become a regular presence and you and your library will be on the minds of your students and faculty.
• Volunteer
• Attend seminars/colloquia
• Thesis and dissertation defenses
• Research presentations (i.e. UCF Research Week)
• Visit the departments and deliver brochures on research tools, offer training
• Show your enthusiasm for excellence in librarianship and research
• Be an advocate for your departments
Be seen….and be on the scene

7. Don’t be discouraged. It’s an ongoing process of
building relationships and gaining knowledge that
takes time (but is very rewarding!)
Go undercover (sort of ) and schmooze (but don’t be smarmy)
It picks up
after the
second million
pages.
I tried Proust in
college; I gave
up after the
first million
pages.