LibGuides: Library Instruction for Your Students: Introduction

Let us help you get your students up to speed for their research assignments! We can show them the best resources for college level research and include hands-on training.

Training for a specific assignment is especially effective. Not only are students more engaged, if they run into problems during class they can get immediate help, and that makes it easier for them when they’re on their own.

And that's not all! COM Library also offers library workshops for COM students, faculty, staff and community. Workshops for faculty are offered on demand.

To schedule library instruction for your class email Kathy Park kpark@com.edu

Why Have Library Instruction For Your Class?

Contributes to Student Retention and Persistence

The literature shows that library instruction contributes to retention and persistence, particularly for students in first-year experience courses and programs.

Raises Grades

Students who receive library instruction as part of their courses achieve higher grades and demonstrate better information literacy competencies than students who do not receive course-related library instruction.

Reduces Student Anxiety

Library research is the #1 academic fear of college student and library instruction has been shown to reduce the anxiety and increase confidence with the research process.

Encourages Students To Use Critical Thinking Skills

Evaluating the quality of the sources they find is frequently a new concept to college students. Library instruction can show them how to use critical thinking skills to evaluate their sources.

Saves Students Time

The literature shows that students require more library instruction than ever before to help them make the best use of their time and find the information they need.

Improves Quality of Student Research and Papers

When students use better quality sources, the quality of their papers improve. Some students have reported higher grades on their papers after library instruction made them familiar with library resources and how to best use them.

Reduces Student Perceived Barriers to Requesting Help

Once they've been in the library and interacted with a librarian, they feel more comfortable asking for help when they need it.

To set up library instruction contact kpark@com.edu.

Types of Library Instruction

COM Library offers tours, classes and workshops (descriptions below).

Tours are brief and not sufficient to teach users how to use the resources of COM Library.
Classes are designed to make COM students information literate, so that they can become lifelong learners.
Workshops are offered on a drop in basis on a variety of topics.
Book a Librarian allows faculty to refer individual students or even a class for one on one library instruction
MS Teams presentations can have the same content as classes or workshops.

We ask that you schedule at least a week ahead of time to avoid conflicts with other instructors, and also so we can incorporate your instructional goals and expectations into our presentation.