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Library Departments Reference Instruction Instruction Form

Library faculty are available to collaborate with you to create a library instruction session(s) for your courses that will be tailored to meet the specific curriculum of your course.  These sessions are most effective when tied to a specific library-related assignment.  Librarians will be happy to work with you to develop these assignments. 

A sample of typical components of topics covered in course integrated library instruction are listed below.  We encourage you to integrate as many components of library skills into your class as you think necessary.  To sufficiently cover many of the topics, more than one class session may be needed.  If you have time in your course schedule, we would be happy to develop multiple library instruction sessions.  

Please note that the number of librarians available and classroom spaces are limited, so please schedule your sessions as early as possible.  We also ask that you be present during the library instruction, as the best learning experience for students comes from the collaboration between instructor and librarian.  

To schedule a library instruction session, please choose the topics that you would like to have covered and complete the form.  If you would like to arrange an instruction session in person or by phone, please call Robin Payne at 870-972-3077 or rpayne@astate.edu.  

Basic Tour (30 minutes)
A library tour that leads students through the library briefly mentioning the purpose of each of the following areas: the Reference Desk, Circulation Desk, Periodicals, General Collection, Reference Stacks, Microform, Media Services, and the Distance Learning classroom.
Customized Basic Introduction to the Library (50 minutes)
A basic overview of the library, highlighting where students can go for help, how to navigate through the library's web page, an introduction to the library catalog, an introduction to locating articles using electronic and print indexes and a brief discussion of locating, evaluating and using information from the World Wide Web.  This very basic session is intended to introduce students to the most widely used resources and will be tailored to your specific course needs, but will only touch briefly on each of the topics mentioned above.  This session does not include a physical tour of the building.  
How to Create a Search Strategy (15 minutes)
 The basics of how turn a topic into appropriate keywords for searching online catalogs and databases. 
How to Locate Library Materials Using the Online Catalog (25 minutes)
An in-depth discussion of how to use the online catalog to search for library materials by title, subject and keyword.  Students will learn the difference between keyword relevance searches and Boolean searches, how to limit searches, how to interpret search results, and techniques for expert searching.  An explanation of Library of Congress classification will also be included.  This session works best in conjunction with "How to Create a Search Strategy."
How to Locate Articles Using Electronic Databases (25-50 minutes)
A demonstration of various article databases, highlighting how to choose a database, various search features and how to interpret results.  The difference between popular and scholarly publications, how to interpret search results, how to use citations to locate articles in the Library's print and online periodical holdings will be discussed.  This session works best in conjunction with "How to Create a Search Strategy."  

Databases you would like demonstrated:
(librarians will be happy to suggest databases)
The Internet (15-50 minutes)
This Internet instruction can range from a very basic discussion, highlighting the most important things students need to know about searching to an more involved session that describes the difference between search engines and directories, useful websites for your particular course, evaluating information found on the web, and advanced search features of specific search engines.

Search Engines/Directories you would like demonstrated:
(librarians will be happy to suggest search engines/directories)
Why, When, and How to Use Interlibrary Loan (10-15 minutes)
Suggested for Graduate and Upper Division Classes
An introduction to the Interlibrary Loan Service explaining how to obtain materials that Ellis Library does not own, with tips that will ensure faster delivery of materials.  This will also include a brief discussion of where to search for materials not owned by Ellis Library.

Name

Email

Phone

Course

Number of people in the class

Number of sessions requested

Preferred date/time of the library instruction

Any information about the course and the assignment will be helpful in developing a tailored library
library instruction.  Please offer as much information as possible.  You may also send a copy of your
syllabus and the assignment via e-mail to Robin Payne (rpayne@astate.edu) or through campus mail. 

Please let us know of any items you would like to ensure that the library instruction cover.

Comments:

Comments/questions to: Web Services Librarian