Higher education has moved aggressively into the online course delivery environment over the past five years. What began as a slow trend has exploded into a full-fledged arm of the education industry. It is critical that libraries provide effective support to students in this environment and give them the same opportunity for academic success as their peers who are physically in the classroom.

This article will describe challenges that libraries need to examine before adding an instructional design librarian to their staff. Grappling with these challenges will empower individuals to better define the librarian’s role and provide a solid foundation for successfully supporting students online. The article will also explain the benefits of expectation management and a process for building a set of shared expectations.