Frontline Forum

The Frontline Forum is a new online discussion and development space for staff who work directly with students and users. The forums will be an opportunity to share best practice, engage with other ALN activities and learn about different service models and delivery types offered by different universities.  

 

The first Frontline Forum will be held online on Tuesday 19 November 2024, 10.30-12.00. Register for your place here. 
Please note: registration will close at 12 noon on Thursday 14 November.

The forum will be run on MS Teams. If you are unfamiliar with the way Teams operates and would like some additional information, please get in touch - academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk. 

The theme of this forum will be Induction and Welcome, with the following discussion ideas for you to think about: 

  • How did your welcome activities go this year? 
  • Did you try anything new?
  • What do you find works well? 
  • How are you involved with library inductions and initiatives? 

Plan for the morning (may be subject to slight change)

10:15: Informal start - come and have a chat over a drink or bring your lunch

10.30: Forum Opener - What is your favourite part of the job at the start of term?​ What is the strangest question that you’ve been asked at the start of term?

10.45: Sharing of experiences across the forum theme – Welcome and Induction (1)​

  • Library, activities, events and competitions​

  • Wider University events and activities (if you get involved in these) ​

11.05: Sharing of experiences across the forum theme – Welcome and Induction (2)​

  • Use and approaches to social media​

  • Embedded and taught sessions​

  • Approaches to sustainability and the environment​

(Comfort break)​

11.35: An introduction to the work of the Academic Librarians Community of Practice​

11.50: Feedback and finish

 

FAQs

Below are some FAQs designed to provide you with more information about what you can expect from the Frontline Forum. If you have any other questions or general queries, please contact academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk.

What is the Frontline Forum? 
The Frontline Forum is intended to create a virtual discussion and development space for teams working directly with students and users. The forums will be an opportunity to share best practice, engage with other ALN activities and learn about different service models and delivery types.    
 
Is the forum for me?  
If you are unsure whether the forum is for you, you can contact us here academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk for an informal chat. Alternatively, you can attend one of the forums to see what it's like - there would be no obligation to continue if you decide it’s not for you.  
 
We know that frontline services across ALN member institutions vary, ranging from circulation to one-stop-shop enquiry services, and all have different names. Examples of colleagues who might want to join the frontline forum can be found below but this list isn’t exhaustive, and anyone who feels that the forum will contribute to their development is welcome:   
 
o    Customer Service Assistants 
o    Library Assistants 
o    Teams handling enquiries through any forum, including helpdesks and associated cultural functions, such as archives or galleries 
o    Teams involved in library or learning spaces and stock   
 
When will the forums be run?  
The forums will be run every 2 months and last for 90 minutes. The first forum will take place online on Tuesday 19 November 2024, 10.30-12.00. Further dates will be confirmed, but they are likely to be in January, March, May and July.
 
Where will the forums be run?  
The forums will be run virtually through MS Teams. 
 
What can I expect at the forums? 
Each forum will be split into two parts: a shared discussion theme or topic that will be pre-advertised; and a presentation from an ALN SIG or CoP followed by questions and answers.  
 
By attending a forum individuals will be agreeing to the following principles: 

  • Adhere to Chatham House Rule. This means that the forum is a confidential space. You can use the information received but you shouldn’t share the identify of individuals or their University or College without permission. 
  • Recognise peoples' experiences and roles may be different to your own – there are no stupid questions! 
  • Value the different perspectives brought to the group.  
  • Recognise that there is rarely one solution to a problem.  

Cameras will always be optional and forums will not be recorded, although resources, such as presentations, will be shared through a Teams group which all attendees can be part of (though this is not compulsory).   
 
Do I have to attend every forum?  
There is no obligation to attend every forum. We know that timetabling and shifts can make it difficult for some individuals to attend regular meetings. Each forum will be designed to be standalone, so you won’t be disadvantaged if you haven't attended any previous ones. If you can only stay for part of the forum, that’s also fine. 
 
I’m unsure about attending on my own - is there an alternative?  
If you are unsure about attending for any reason, we can offer you a buddy. This could be someone you meet beforehand (virtually or face-to-face depending on geography) or someone who attends with you to be a friendly face. Equally, you can invite a colleague or friend to come with you – even if they work in a different area. If you would like to be matched with another participant from your own institution or externally, please get in touch - academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk.

There is no expectation that everyone will actively participate - you are very welcome to come along and observe how the forum runs and listen to the discussions. 

I'd like to suggest a topic for discussion - is that possible?
We are always looking for subjects that would be of interest. You are also welcome and encouraged to present on a topic yourself. The staff development group can provide support if you would like help to develop your idea or run a presentation. You can send suggestions through to academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk.

How do I sign up?  
Each forum will be advertised through the ALN website and the staff development updates. There will be links for you to follow to register for a place via Ticket Tailor. Once you have registered, you will be sent a Teams link. 

We also have a Teams site to which we will add all participants from our forums. We will share all documentation here and hope that it will become a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the forums. If you would rather not be added to the Teams site, please let us know - academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk.