Funded by XJTLU/UoL Erasum+ staff mobility program, liaison librarians from the University of Liverpool, Sarah Roughley (pictured below, left) and Zelda Chatten (right) visited XJTLU on 20th -24th March, 2017. The objectives of their mobility are to build a successful working relationship between liaison librarians at XJTLU and Liverpool that will endure beyond the period of mobility, to develop an understanding of XJTLU students so librarians in UoL can better support their library training and service needs when they are in Liverpool, to understand the Chinese educational context so they can develop specific support of XJTLU students in Liverpool accordingly.

“As liaison librarians it is our responsibility to make sure students and academics have access to the resources they need from the Library at the University of Liverpool, and that they are used effectively,” explained Zelda. “As such, we also promote available resources and train staff and students in how to use them."

“We constantly communicate with academics so we always know what books they’re recommending to students and to make enough copies available,” said Sarah. “Some books are available in electronic editions which makes this easier.”

Sarah and Zelda had a busy week of meetings with staff of the Library at XJTLU to discuss ways to improve such practices, and to learn more about XJTLU students’ needs so as to benefit those who will go to study in Liverpool.

“We have been working in our library to better support students from XJTLU, of which there are over 2000 and the majority are within the academic departments we work with,” said Sarah. “We have a lot of contact with XJTLU students and teach them a lot about library resources and support them in their studies,” she said.

“The last time our library staff had direct face-to-face contact with staff at XJTLU was 10 years ago,” said Zelda. “It’s been so beneficial to come here and see the library environment and how students operate within it. Now we know a lot more about students’ expectations based on their experiences at XJTLU,” she said.