Staff liaisons offer programmatic guidance to Peer groups and new Communities of practice. The workload for this role may vary depending on the area of focus or programs/initiatives led by the group. Staff liaisons attend standing meetings, participate in leadership calls/agenda planning meetings, help with setting group priorities, and may facilitate group discussions.
For Peer Groups:
Support is available from the Coordinator for Community Engagement for the following standard group management workflows and tasks - please contact the Center for Library Programs helpdesk.
Shared documentation access
Meeting setup and calendaring
Listserv updates
Polling during and outside of meetings
Approval of initial charter and revisions
The Coordinator for Community Engagement is available to support the group leadership team during co-chair transitions, helping new co-chairs get oriented to community management resources.
For New Communities of Practice:
Depending on the group's area of focus and relationship to an existing Peer group, a staff liaison may be assigned to provide programmatic guidance. This liaison participates in agenda planning and helps establish a strong foundation during the group’s early stages. As with Peer groups, the Coordinator for Community Engagement assists with standard group management workflows and tasks, as outlined above.
Following an initial assessment period, the group may choose to evolve into a self-organizing, self-directed Community of practice, functioning similarly to a long-standing group. Alternatively, it may transition into a Peer group - if appropriate - and formalize ongoing staff liaison support. In most cases, allowing 2–3 years before making this decision helps support long-term success.