Danielle PortwayFall 2011 LIBR 210

COURSE INTEGRATED LIBRARY INSTRUCTION

Importance of Library Instruction• Students at universities are required to do research papers, no matter the major. • English, World Civ./History, sometimes Science courses.

• “Faculty-Librarian collaboration can be an elegant solution…to develop these academic skills.” (Hollister, 2008)• Skills which teachers find lacking in students, much to their

frustration.

• Increased use of the Internet does not mean increased information literacy. (Stowe, 2011)• Actually less.

Library Instruction Currently• Repeated constantly throughout course of study .

• Usually 45-75 minute sessions, once or twice per class

(Stowe, 2011, 85).• Faculty seems to prefer one session per class (Hollister, 2008)• Some would rather not even involve the library as it takes time

away from instruction.

• Partial coverage• Not mandatory• Faculty choice to implement (Hollister, 2008)

• In one ear, out the other syndrome• Retention is minimal with one session. (Callison, 2001)• Course-relatedness does not convey necessity (Callison,

2001)

Ways to Implement Further Integration

•Make part of curriculum classes that are mandatory at the university. (Callison, 2001) • Especially useful for required classes like World History

(Hollister, 2008) and basic English classes.

• Examples in successful practice• Long Island University and the Brooklyn Campus Library

(Stowe, 2011)• Class-integration of library instruction for English classes

• Albany Medical College (Geyer & Irish, 2008)• Web-based self-directed learning, building on past comprehension

throughout

Ways to Implement Further Integration•Work with faculty to tailor classes for more in-depth learning of library resources.• Outside meetings with faculty to determine class needs and

best ways to instruct• Learn faculty preferences and adjust accordingly

• Creation of products like web guides customized with faculty. (Hollister, 2008)• Collaborate with teachers to best suit classes.

• Example in successful practice• University at Buffalo (Hollister, 2008)• Librarian outreach to create a partnership• Adjusted each semester to suit needs of departments

Ways to Implement Further Integration• Create online tutorials to compliment classes or replace entirely (Gilbert et al, 2006)• Takes less time and money to do.• Also can be openly available and hold attention better. (Callison,

2001)

• Example in successful practice• San Jose State University and the King Library (Gilbert et al.,

2006)• Online tutorials to assist students

Ways to Implement Further Integration• Embed librarians “within a course, an academic department or college structure” (Jacobs, 2010).• Librarians assigned to work in tandem.• Offer office hours and appointments for one-on-one

consultations with students and faculty. (Hollister, 2008)

• Example in successful practice • University of Alabama (Keever & Raymond, 1976)• Personalized learning (4 units) and librarian/teacher instruction (7

sessions)

Benefits from Further Integration• Student results• Better understanding of resources, citations and plagiarism

(Stowe, 2011)• More access to librarians and familiarity with reference

services (Jacobs, 2010)

• Library results• Better communication with faculty and students to help with

assignments (Jacobs, 2010)• Better understanding of what is needed to be added to

library’s collection (Jacobs, 2010)

• Faculty results• Less frustration over students lacking research skills for

papers (Hollister, 2008)

Sources• 1. Stowe, B. (2011). “I can’t find anything” Towards establishing a continuum in

curriculum-integrated library instruction. Reference Services Review, 39(1), 81-97.

• 2. Gilbert, L. M., Liu, M., Matoush, T, & Whitlatch J. B. (2006). Assessing Digital Reference and Online Instructional Services in an Integrated Public University Library. The Reference Librarian, 95/96, 149- 172.

• 3. Jacobs, W. N. (2010). Embedded Librarianship is a Winning Proposition. Education Libraries, 33(2), 3-10.

• 4. Keever, E. H. & Raymond J. C. (1976). Integrated Library Instruction on the University Campus: Experiment at the University of Alabama. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2(4), 185-187.

• 5. Geyer, E. M. & Irish, D. E. (2008). Isolated to Integrated: An Evolving Medical Informatics Curriculum. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 27(4), 451-461.

• 6. Hollister, C. V. (2008). Meeting Them Where They Are: Library Instruction for Today’s Students in the World Civilizations Course. Public Service Quarterly, 4(1), 15-27.

• 7. Callison, D. (2001). Integrated Instruction. School Library Media Activities Monthly, 17(5), 33-39.