Connecting Faculty Candidates with the Library: Lessons Learned from the Literature and the Field

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates how liaison librarians can pursue influential relationships with faculty candidates in their liaison departments during the interview process. Although these interactions tend to be meet and greets, the impression that they leave may assist a potentially new faculty member when evaluating the campus environment and climate. This essay explores the relationship that academic librarians can develop during the hiring process for faculty candidates in their liaison departments, and the continued collaboration post-hire for the successful candidate. Literature for librarian outreach has been synthesized to present suggestions for strategies to engage with faculty candidates during the interview process and to further develop these relationships post-hire.