1 Year Later: Empowering Staff and Facilitating Remote Work with LibAnswers
Amanda Scull, Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries
One year later, Amanda returns to discuss how LibAnswers has changed the landscape for staff during a year of change and unpredictability. Prior to COVID-19, the Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries had all staff -- not just librarians -- using LibAnswers for reference questions, information services interactions, and data collection. During the shift to remote work, this system was refined to facilitate our information services staff (whose job is mainly based on site, at the desk) working from home and increase their responsibilities for virtual patron interactions. Staff are trusted and empowered to utilize and expand upon their own knowledge, patrons receive responses faster, and librarians have time to dedicate to research and literature searching needs. This presentation will cover the details of how this model works, how it functioned in a hybrid working environment, and reflections on best practices as we look to the future of staff roles and library services.
Products Covered: LibAnswers & LibGuides
Amanda Scull is Head of Education and Information Services at the Dartmouth College Biomedical Libraries. She earned her MLIS from Syracuse University and previously held positions at Keene State College and the SIT Graduate Institute. Her professional and scholarly background includes collection management, open access and scholarly communication, staff development, and information literacy and education.
Dartmouth College
Library Type: Academic/Medical Library
Demographic Served: Geisel School of Medicine students and faculty, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center staff, clinicians, and residents/fellows, Dartmouth College students, faculty, and staff
Population Size: FTE approx. 10,000 with both College and medical center
Staff Size: 15
Plan for Fall 2020:
@dartmouthlibrary