Making all the gears drive the machine: New library collections and services for starting a mechanical engineering program

Abstract

A new university program proposal always brings challenges for a subject liaison librarian and for a mid-size library. This is especially true when a new program, such as mechanical engineering, represents an entirely new discipline area. This article will discuss how the Dixie State University (DSU) Library was able to leverage the experience of their new library dean (a former engineering librarian) to mentor a librarian called upon to serve as the new engineering subject liaison. The article will discuss how the engineering librarian and dean performed a thorough collection assessment and had a frank discussion with the program faculty, provost, and others to advocate for resource needs. They were also able to build relationships with new faculty hired to lead the department and hope this relationship building will result in a strong information literacy component within the mechanical engineering curriculum. DSU's library's goals are always to be a strong supportive and teaching supplement to its faculty within a campus environment of student-centered learning and teaching. Ongoing challenges include defining a core collection in the face of sometimes competing demands such as accreditation, faculty needs, and limited funding. Experiences have shown that patience, skillful communication, concrete evidence, advocacy, and diplomacy reign supreme in a list of virtues necessary to achieve success for all interested parties. The library staff recognize first and foremost that all of their work is ultimately to provide the best opportunity for learning and the continued success of our students. Other libraries would benefit from their experiences in establishing a new engineering collection and services from the ground-up.