Past Frontline Forums

Here are the details from the Frontline Forums that have run already. Our forums are 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. 

2024 - 2025

Frontline Forum 3 - Thursday 27 March 2025, 10.00 - 11.30am

The theme of this month's forum was use of spaces and handling issues:

09:45: Informal start - come and have a chat over a drink or snack and say hello.   

10:00: Introduction to the forum and forum opener:   

  • Does your library allow food and drink?

We used Padlet as part of the forum opener: https://padlet.com/site/board  

10:10: Sharing of experiences across the forum theme – Handling space and user issues in your library  

  • Do you have any hot spots or problem zones in your library?  
  • Does your Library have an alert service? 
  • What kind of signage does your Library have in place?  Do you think it works? 
  • Do you have roving support?  
  • Does your Library impose any sanctions?  

10:50: Comfort break  

11.00: An introduction to the work of the Learning Spaces Community of Practice (CoP) and some helpful case studies  

11.20: Feedback and finish by 11:30 

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Frontline Forum 2 - Wednesday 29th January 2025, 2.30-4.00pm 

The theme of this forum was Handling frontline enquiries, with the following discussion ideas: 

  • 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 was the programme for the afternoon:

Informal start - log in, check your IT set up and introduce yourself 

2.30: Introduction to the forum

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

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

25 minutes in breakout rooms and 15 minutes sharing highlights

3.20: Comfort break  

3.30: An introduction to the work of the ALN UX CoP

3.50: Feedback and finish 

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Frontline Forum 1 - Tuesday 19th November 2024, 10.30-12.00

The theme of this forum was Induction and Welcome, with the following discussion ideas: 

  • 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? 

Programme for the session

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​

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

11.50: Feedback and finish