Personal connections: one library’s history of personal librarian

Abstract

Purpose

To describe how a personal librarian program at a large university developed, has evolved, and continues to function. This paper aims to assist other librarians in developing their own personal librarian programs. It will also assist librarians who are working to connect to students.

Design/methodology/approach

To produce this paper, internal documents were reviewed, existing data were investigated, those who assisted in the development of the program were consulted and literature on personal librarian programs was reviewed.

Findings

Personal librarian programs can be an efficient way to connect to students and can create awareness about library services, especially without a formal orientation for new students. The personal librarian program discussed here connects the library to a large number of students with little time and effort. Planning is important in developing a working program.

Practical implications

Librarians can use this article to understand how a personal librarians program functions and how it can benefit their libraries. The paper emphasizes revising an existing program to work more effectively and using planning documents and assessment to help an outreach program run smoothly.

Originality/value

This paper details how a personal librarian program was developed and has evolved as well as how the program functions. The value is in the ways in which the program has been revised and has evolved and in the role that planning has taken in creating an effective program.

Citation

Ferer, E. (2021), "Personal connections: one library’s history of personal librarian", Reference Services Review, Vol. 49 No. 1, pp. 67-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-07-2020-0050