Faculty: An essential resource for reference librarians.

Teaching faculty are a key resource for reference librarians. This paper includes a discussion of major forces affecting reference service as well as suggestions on ways for librarians to become better acquainted with teaching faculty. One benefit of making these connections is that when faculty know and have confidence in librarians, they are more likely to urge their students to get help at the desk, to schedule course-related instruction sessions, and to let librarians know if they have a particularly difficult or complex assignment. Another benefit is that such connections often lead to increased opportunities, from participation in campus-wide initiatives to the development of collaborative projects and other scholarly work. As a librarian relatively new to the profession, I know that such connections with teaching faculty have enriched my own career.