Formal library instruction, taught by faculty librarians, is offered to all classes conducted by Salisbury University faculty.

The two major goals of the library instruction program are to support classroom instruction by helping students find and use information related to course assignments and to foster lifelong learning in students by teaching information literacy skills and research techniques.

Objectives

Students at Salisbury University should be aware of the wide variety of print and electronic information resources available to them. Students should be able to conduct effective library research by learning how to identify, access, retrieve and evaluate appropriate information for their needs. Basic library and research skills will be presented in entry-level and core courses and advanced research skills will be presented in upper-level and graduate courses.

Policies

     A. General

     Blackwell faculty librarians enjoy working with course instructors to tailor library
     instruction to the class need. Library instruction at Salisbury University may take a
     variety of forms:

     ·   individual class session (one or more)
     ·   individual class session combined with one of the following:
         -   a resource-specific orientation
         -   a class assignment
         -   a library-related assignment
     ·   collaborative course teaching
     ·   small group session
     ·   individual student session

     A library instruction session must include a minimum of 30 minutes of faculty librarian
     teaching. General library tours are not considered library instruction.

     The individual class session option is at least one 50 or 75 minute class period focusing
     on the research skills and resources appropriate for the course content. Courses with
     a significant research component may necessitate more than one class session.

     The class session combination begins in the library classroom and ends with an
     examination of relevant resources within Blackwell Library.

     Collaborative course teaching is team teaching with the course instructor, in a variety
     of arrangements, for both on-site and off-site (distance learning) courses. Formats
     can be as inclusive as a librarian and course faculty team teaching an entire course
     or as pointed as a librarian monitoring a WebCT Discussion Board in an online course.

     One-on-one meetings between small groups or individual students and a librarian may
     be scheduled during regular course periods or another block of time.

     The course instructor should schedule library instruction for an appropriate time in the
     term for their course. Students who are aware of and understand the research
     assignment prior to the time that library instruction is scheduled are more likely to
     succeed in their research endeavors.

     Course instructors are required to attend library class sessions with their students.
     Student learning and motivation are enhanced when their instructor is present during a
     library class session. Students may also have questions about assignment requirements
     or topic-related questions that can only be addressed by their classroom instructor.

     B. Availability

     Library instruction is available on a first-come, first-served basis to all Salisbury
     University classes at the request of the course instructor. Library instruction is required
     for English 101 and is strongly recommended for other courses that are research
     intensive.

     C. Session Scheduling

     Faculty requesting a class session should contact the Instruction Coordinator or the
     library liaison for their department at least two weeks in advance to ensure availability
     of the preferred time slot. Faculty requesting one-on-one sessions should make contact
     as early as possible to discuss location, availability, etc.

     Requests made with less than two weeks lead-time may or may not be scheduled,
     depending on the requirements of the instruction session, availability of the time slot
     and the availability of a Blackwell Library faculty member.

     Generally, a maximum of four library class sessions is scheduled on any given week
     day, with one or two sessions arranged on Saturdays or on Sundays. The number can
     fluctuate due to demand, scheduling difficulties and staff availability.

     INSTRUCTION REQUEST FORM

     D. Library Instruction Facilities

     Library instruction sessions receive a priority status in the use of library facilities.
     Sessions may take place in one or more of the following library spaces: the library
     classroom (BL203), the media viewing room (BL126), a group study room, other library
     spaces or individual librarian offices. The library classroom limits group size to around
     30 or fewer persons per session.

     Sessions may also be conducted in spaces outside the library, such as the regular
     course classroom or other campus buildings. The librarian and the course instructor
     will collaborate on the location to ensure that appropriate instruction space and
     equipment are present.

Contacts

Instruction Coordinator: Stephen Ford, BL128, 410-548-5972, saford@salisbury.edu
Head of Reference: Kathryn Kalmanson, BL133, 410-543-6190, kckalmanson@salisbury.edu

Library Liaisons: http://www.salisbury.edu/library/guides/faculty/liaisons.html

Blackwell Library: http://www.salisbury.edu/library/

Research Services Home | Library Home Student Evaluation

The Library Instruction Coordinator is Stephen Ford,
saford@salisbury.edu | 410-548-5972