Rich Ideas, Real Relationships: Practical Outreach Skills for New Librarians

Rich Ideas, Real Relationships: Practical Outreach Skills for New Librarians

Presentation at the 2026 CALA Northeast Chapter Annual Conference

Li, Yaoguang

2026-04-10

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Practical Outreach Skills for New Librarians

In an era of tightening budgets and limited visibility, new librarians are often expected to build strong faculty partnerships without additional resources. In my first year as a STEM research librarian, I discovered that the most effective outreach required no funding, only intentional presence: attending departmental seminars, asking thoughtful research questions, requesting brief meetings with department leaders, and following up strategically. By shifting from “service promotion” to genuine research engagement, I was able to build credibility and trust within my liaison areas. This lightning talk offers practical, adaptable outreach techniques that early-career librarians can immediately use to strengthen faculty relationships even with a scrappy wallet.

Li, Yaoguang