Instruction Menu

We are happy to provide library instruction for your classes. Librarians will work with you to design interactive sessions tailored to your students’ needs.

Customize your session by selecting from the skills listed below. This is not an exhaustive list—if you would like additional resources or topics covered, we would be happy to discuss options with you and determine content and objectives that best fit your needs.

Please fill out the online form to request an instruction session.

Schedule Session

  • Basic introduction to the library

A basic overview of the library resources and services provided, including workshops, and ways of accessing librarian assistance

  • Create a search strategy

Constructing a search strategy based on research questions
Using a concept map to determine concepts, keywords and synonyms for keywords
Using boolean operators

  • Introduction to database searching

Conducting basic searches and finding full text articles in one database
Requesting articles via interlibrary loan

  • Search the library catalog

Finding books and ebooks using the library catalog
Requesting books via interlibrary loan
Finding textbooks

  • Evaluate sources for credibility and relevance

Analyzing the credibility of a range of sources. Comparing and distinguishing between popular and scholarly articles
Identifying characteristics of credibility via websites

  • Use information ethically

Identifying when and why sources must be cited
Analyzing examples for plagiarism characteristics
Introduction to APA or MLA citation manual and resources

  • Develop a research question

Brainstorming ideas with the help of concept mapping or other tools
Narrowing or broadening topic to fit the scope of a research project

  • Specialized database searching

Searching for topics in discipline-specific databases
Using advanced searches to find specific results

  • Track the literature

Interpreting citations (book, article, etc.) in an original article’s reference list;
Locating the full text from a citation in the reference list;
Locating earlier sources that have cited the original article.

  • Use information ethically

Identifying when and why sources must be cited
Analyzing examples for plagiarism characteristics
Introduction to Zotero workshops

  • Synthesize sources for a literature review

Incorporating sources into research project

  • Locate primary sources

Identifying characteristics between primary and secondary sources.
Strategies for locating primary sources using databases and/or the University Archives and Special Collection

  • Cite sources properly

Creating references and In-text citation

  • Basic introduction to AI research tools like Research Rabbit, Litmaps, and Consensus
  • Finding and searching within a specific journal