Dive Brief:

• More than one-quarter of faculty respondents in a recent survey said there is no need to consult with campus librarians, but better communication could improve student outcomes.
• eCampus News reports the survey of 500 librarians and 500 faculty members by Library Journal and Gale found nearly all librarians wish for better communication with faculty while fewer than half of their counterparts say the same, and many faculty members discount the library resources altogether.
• Faculty members indicated dedicated library liaisons for each department could open the channels of communication, which, if it results in greater student understanding of library resources, could improve student outcomes.

Dive Insight:

Colleges analyzing student data to find patterns indicating probable failure or success on campus have identified library use as one factor. Students who visit the library a certain number of times during the semester are more likely to pass their courses, just as students who visit campus tutoring centers or complete all the readings.

With the soaring costs of textbooks, faculty collaboration with librarians over course reserves could also provide a cheaper alternative to buying textbooks. A survey of undergraduates by the National Association of Campus Stores found students are spending less on course materials in recent years, but it is because they are going without textbooks entirely, limiting their ability to fully participate in class.