Guide for Faculty & Staff: Library Instruction

Students learn library skills best when motivated to do so by their professors.  Motivation is often provided through an assignment and your personal interest in the library research process.  To make the most of instruction,

• Give the students an assignment that requires them to use the library or databases before they participate in instruction.
• Make an effort whenever possible to be present during instruction.  This sends a message to students:  if instruction is important enough for an instructor to be engaged in it, it is probably important for them, too.  Moreover, professors are usually more motivated (or less bashful) in asking questions that clarify points.  
• Participate!  It's great when instructors can ask questions or add their own knowledge to learning library research.

Finally, it's perfectly fine for you to do your own library instruction.  As an effective and active researcher, you can bring relevant experience to how you teach your students.  Just remember to let your students know that the library staff is ready and willing to help them!

Students, faculty and staff learn about the library and its resources in many different ways.  Typically, students (and you) can experience

• Formal library instruction.  A librarian can either visit your class or you can bring your class to the library and meet in classroom ML141. Instruction can happen once or a series of times, depending on faculty need. 
• Individual appointments.  Students may contact librarians for instruction and reference help.  Some professors include this information on course syllabi.  
• Point-of-use instruction.   Renae Stucky (Access Services) is typically available every weekday to help students, faculty, staff, and other library patrons with research questions or problems.
• E-mail reference. The "Ask the Librarian" link on the library homepage, along with links on Guides, send email to Renae and Barbara, who are often available to answer questions during the evening and weekends.