Instruction @ Belk Library

 Instruction, classes, tours

Four types of instruction sessions are available for Elon University students, faculty, and staff: course-related sessions, tours, individual research assistance and workshops.

A. Course-related sessions

Course-related sessions focus on library resources valuable to a course or related to a class assignment. Most sessions include lecture and active-learning exercises, and can include time for students to begin their research with librarian assistance. Faculty can schedule a course-related session by using the instruction session request form or by contacting the Instruction Librarian (rbowman).

B. Tours

Library tours help students feel comfortable with finding materials in the library, as well as locating the many available services – research help, circulation, media services, the writing and tutoring centers, and the student technology lab. Tours are scheduled with the Instruction Librarian (rbowman).

C. Individual Research Assistance

Librarians offer individual research assistance for faculty, staff, and students, which can be arranged by contacting one of the subject liaison librarians.

D. Workshops

The Instruction Team offers workshops throughout the semester that are open to anyone interested in attending. Past topics have included finding materials in the library, using library databases, copyright, and research strategies. Workshops are sometimes planned in cooperation with Teaching and Learning Technologies. Check the Belk Library blog for information.

 Library instruction team

To set up a session, please use our instruction session request form or contact Randall Bowman with the desired date, time and class content. He will assign a location and a teaching librarian, who will contact you to discuss details of the class assignment.

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 Instruction FAQs

How do I schedule a session?

You can use the instruction session request form or you can contact Randall Bowman (phone: 336.278.6571  or email: rbowman). Please call the library if we have not replied within 2 business days.

What are the benefits of having an instruction session for my class?

An instruction session can be customized to the needs of your students, and highlight sources that are relevant to their assignment. For example, for a psychology class, students learn how to use the advanced search features of PsycINFO, the online index of psychological literature.

Where does library instruction usually take place?

Instruction sessions typically take place in a lab in the library, so that students can get hands-on practice searching online databases. However, librarians can also come and speak to a class elsewhere on campus.

Do I need to be with my students at the session?

Yes! The faculty member should be present to emphasize important information, as well as to field questions about the assignment.

What are some other topics librarians can cover?

Instruction librarians can talk about topics such as the differences between scholarly journals and popular magazines, primary and secondary sources, evaluating sources, and the differences between using online databases and the World Wide Web.

Should my class be working on an assignment?

Library instruction sessions should be related to an assignment on which a class is working, so that a librarian can teach students research strategies and sources appropriate to the assignment at hand.

Can I schedule more than one session?

A librarian can do multiple sessions, with emphasis on a different topic each session, as well as serve as a research consultant to a class, guiding students in their research throughout a semester.

When should I schedule a session?

We ask that you schedule library instruction sessions as far in advance as feasible. The Instruction team asks at least a week's notice so that the librarian will have time to prepare. Please have several session date options in mind in case we are unable to accommodate your ideal date and time.

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 Instruction program mission/objectives

Mission

The Belk Library Instruction Program supports the education mission of Elon University by fostering information literacy skills. Library instruction teaches students to conduct effective research, with an emphasis on how to access, evaluate, and use information.

Objectives

Through library instruction, Elon University students should be able to:

1. Access and use information in a variety of formats.

• Know how to use the online catalog, indexes, databases, Internet, and the reference collection.
• Know how to use Journal Finder to determine a periodical's availability.
• Know how to request books and articles through interlibrary loan.

2. Focus or refine a research question and create search strategies.

• Know how to develop a research question.
• Be familiar with the concepts of keyword searching and Boolean logic.
• Be able to alter research topics and search strategies if necessary.
• Recognize librarians as a resource in the research and information seeking process.

3. Recognize discipline specific information structures and scholarly communication.

• Use the online, print, and multimedia resources appropriate to their academic discipline.
• Be aware of the network of scholarly communication within their discipline.
• Locate and recognize the citation style used for a particular discipline.
• Understand the importance of using bibliographies to further research.

4. Discriminate among different kinds of information and critically assess information quality and relevance.

• Understand the difference between information found in books, periodicals, and on the Internet.
• Be able to evaluate information based on criteria such as authority, objectivity, and currency, regardless of source.
• Understand the peer-review process involved in scholarly publication.

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