Frontline Forum

The Frontline Forum is a new online discussion and development space for staff who work directly with students and users (please see below FAQs for more information about who the forums are aimed at).
They 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 second Frontline Forum will be held online on Wednesday 29 January 2025, 2.30-4.00pm

Register for your place here.

Please note: registration will close at 12 noon on Thursday 22 January 2025. We have used feedback from the first forum to adjust timings.  

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 for this forum will be handling frontline enquiries

  • How does your university deliver frontline services? 
  • What do you include as part of your frontline service? 
  • When do you offer services? 
  • Where do you offer from physically and online?  

This is the plan for the afternoon (subject to slight change nearer the time):

2:15: Informal start - come and have a chat over a drink or snack   

2.30: Forum Opener   

  • What is the most common query you receive?  
  • Is there anything you wish your users asked about more?  
  • How do your users like to get in touch?  

2.40: Sharing of experiences across the forum theme – Frontline enquiry services  

Discussion around the topic of enquiry handling on the frontline:  

  • How is your enquiry service delivered? 
  • What physical or virtual presence do you have? 
  • How has your service and delivery changed?  

3.20: Comfort break  

3.30: An introduction to the work of one of our ALN groups 

3.50: Feedback and finish 

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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