Trusted Librarian: Service Model Offers Best Practices for New Subject Librarians

Abstract

As we compete in the global market of information providers, librarians can advance by better understanding how corporations conduct business and provide services. According to the principles discussed in The Trusted Advisor (Maister, Green, & Galford, 2000), constituents may value trust more than discipline expertise. Business books often discuss trust building, which is viewed as a necessity for building professional success. Discipline expertise is a valuable commodity, but librarians who fail to build trust with constituents may struggle to engage them. This is a best practices piece that identifies successful trust-building techniques that foster relationships between librarian and constituent.