The mission of the CSU Library instruction program is to uphold Charleston Southern University’s educational mission by teaching information literacy and providing information resources that support teaching and learning. To work in conjunction with faculty to prepare students to effectively and responsibly locate, evaluate, and use information across the curriculum and in lifelong learning.
Library Instruction
- Librarians teach your students how to do the research for your assignment and will tailor lesson plans to individual class needs
- Librarians request at least 2 weeks notice to plan an effective and engaging library instruction session
- Professors are required to attend sessions along with their students
- What your students should learn:
- Why the library and using library resources is important
- How to find and use information in libraries and online
- Types of publications and how to identify appropriate resources to meet needs
- How to be proficient at evaluating resources
- How to use information ethically
- Library Instruction Sessions focus on:
- Course specific needs
- Information literary
- Using library resources
How to make the most of your Library Instruction Session:
- Assignments:
- Students should have an assignment requiring information resource use prior to the library instruction session in order for them to receive the full benefit of the session
- Professors should share syllabi and assignments with the librarian
- Timing:
- If scheduled too early, students will not retain what they have learned
- If scheduled too late, students will not have acquired the skills they need to successfully complete an assignment
- A helpful rule of thumb may be to schedule a library session two weeks to 10 days before a specific assignment is due
Topics that can be covered in a Library Instruction Session include:
- Introduction to Databases
- Introduction to the CSU Library Catalog
- Source Evaluation
- Subject Specific Research
- Hands-on Research Time
- Citations Done Right
- Information Ethics and Copyright/Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
