Library Instruction

Supporting Faculty & Students

The St. Thomas Libraries play an integral role in fulfilling the University's mission of "educating morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good." Each aspect of the mission is rooted in developing information literate graduates. We collaborate with faculty to prepare students to be lifelong learners and information literate citizens able to find, evaluate, and use information ethically.

What is Library Instruction?

Librarians welcome opportunities to collaborate with faculty in developing appropriate assignments and supporting research that will help achieve your course learning outcomes.

Library instruction is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Our librarians provide customized and course-integrated instruction at all course levels. Library instruction is optimized when coordinated with a course assignment or objective. 

As with any skill, developing information literacy skills takes time and practice. While librarians are happy to work with a class on a single assignment, we can also work with you to strategically visit your class multiple times and scaffold instruction over multiple sessions, assignments, or even a series of courses.

Types of Instruction

Instruction can take place in various formats:

• Synchronous classes in your classroom, in the library, or online
• One-on-one scheduled consultations with a subject librarian
• Asynchronous - research guides, Library Help and Canvas modules, tutorials, videos, etc.

Instruction Content

Topics that can be covered in a library instruction session include:

• Library website overview
• Search strategies and techniques
• Subject Resources
• Choosing and accessing appropriate sources (peer reviewed/scholarly journals vs. other material types, etc)
• Scholarly communication, data management, content creation, publishing, etc.
• Citation Management Tools (Zotero)

How to Schedule Instruction

• Contact your subject librarian to schedule a session. Requests should be received at least one week in advance.
• Sessions can be held face-to-face in your classroom or a library classroom, online via Zoom, or pre-recorded.  
• Sessions can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on available class time and the type and level of instruction needed.