Value-Added Technologies for Liaison and Outreach

New technologies are changing the way people communicate. Social networking and Web 2.0 resources have had a profound impact on teaching, learning, and research in wide-ranging and dynamic ways. This article describes technologies implemented by liaison librarians to enhance liaison relationships at a small academic library in a doctoral research university. Online networking technologies as well as simple devices such as a TV video monitor are explored. This article also discusses how liaison librarians might discern whether the technology-based services they provide are value-added and useful and not simply jumping on the Library 2.0 bandwagon. Librarians who are part of small organizations, who are limited for time and lack extensive technology resources, can implement these liaison services.