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Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library: Library Instruction & Orientation


INSTRUCTION SIGN UP:

Orientations and instruction is provided by the Instruction Services Librarian and the Reference Department. The Archive and Special Collection tours are run by the Periodical's Department.

Instruction is offered all year round and you must sign up no less than one week in advance; just like any professor, we need time to prepare. We will not accept session and tour requests less than a week before your intended date.

Instruction is most beneficial to students when they have an assignment to apply these skills to. It is suggested that you either schedule your library session when your students have an assignment to complete or that you create an assignment for them to do their research on after they complete the session. If you would like more than one session we are willing to do this as well.

If you are simply looking to use the room for your own class: Classroom Use Policies and Request

Please fill out the following form to request a library instruction session.

The items denoted with an * are required.

Pt 1: Class information

*First Name:      *Last Name:

*Phone:      *Email:

Please give us multiple time you can have your class come to the classroom. If none of these dates is available a librarian will contact you with other possible dates.

*Date (1st Choice): mm/dd/yy *Time (1st Choice): (ie. 10:00 am)
*Date (2nd Choice): mm/dd/yy *Time (2nd Choice): (ie. 10:00 am)
  Date (3rd Choice): mm/dd/yy   Time (3rd Choice): (ie. 10:00 am)

Course Number, Title and Section:

Class Size:   Department:

Class Level: Undergraduate  Graduate

If you would like a specific Librarian to instruct your class, let us know (optional):

Pt 2: Session Options

Library Orientation

Recommended for Writing 1 students or other classes with students who are unfamiliar with the library's services.

  1. Tour of the library
    • Reference Collection
    • General Collection
    • Periodical Collection
    • First Floor Services
  2. Using the Library's Webpage
    • Electronic Reserves
    • Journal Locator
    • Online Resources
  3. Using the Library's Catalog
    • Course Reserves
    • Basic Searching
    • Understanding call numbers
  4. Exercise: Find book on a specific topic and check it out

No assignment is required for this.

Archive and Special Collection Tours

Our library Archives are available for tours. These tours are done by Janice Ouellette and are done at her convenience. There is no need for an assignment with these tours.

 

Introduction to Research

This session is ideal for Writing 2 students.  It pulls examples from the class assignment

  1. Developing A Search Strategy
    • Selecting a research topic
  2. Selecting Appropriate Databases and demos
  3. Locating material in the library
    • Journal Locator
    • Inter-Library Loan
  4. Off Campus Access
  5. Why not the web?

This session is ideal for undergraduate classes. Even if students have been in a session before, it is best that they come again because these skills need to be practiced.

Advanced Research

This session is ideal for upperclassmen doing research for their major. It pulls examples from the class assignment or subjects in the major.

  1. Develop Search Strategy
    • Boolean
    • Organizing for advanced searches
    • Scholarly vs. popular articles
  2. Subject listings for database selection
    • Demos of advanced search features
  3. Library Resources
    • Journal locator
    • ILL
    • Off campus access
  4. Why not the web pt. 2
  5. Research assistance

Research Assistance

This session is best for classes that feel comfortable with their skills, but want to have a librarian available for extra help. Both the professor and librarian will be present while students spend entire session working on research independently. This will give them the opportunity to ask questions and get on the spot instruction.

Specialized Sessions

Recommended for Graduate and Upper Level Undergraduate classes.

Librarians will work directly with you to create sessions geared to specialized research assignments, to learn a specific database, or to review unique resources.

If you select this option, a librarian will contact you in order to set up a time to create the session. This will require that you come by the library and provide materials regarding the upcoming assignment.

Faculty/Staff Sessions

The library is willing to help faculty members continue their training in using the library's tools. Databases change constantly and we can help you keep up with the changes. Please feel free to schedule a session for a single faculty member or an entire department.

We will do sessions with general groups, but would prefer that participants be from the same department so we can focus the session and give you as much help as possible.

Pt 3: Your Assignment

Please describe the type of library research you are requiring of your students and what you are hoping your students will learn from this session. Students should be familiar with the requirements of the assignment before they come to a library instruction session. Success of any library instruction session is based on students having an actual research assignment and knowing what that assignment is before they come for the library session. If you are a Writing 1 or 2 professor, please let us know if you want us to use the Freshman Foundation Year text to base our session on.

Check here if you do not have an assignment and would like help creating one.

Please suggest some relevant sample topics so the Librarian can prepare a relevant demonstration:

Pt 4: Notes

If you have any special instructions, students who have special needs, or any other relevant information, please include it here.

 

 

 

 

Maintained by: Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Library - 160 Pearl Street - Fitchburg, MA 01420
Forward Comments and Suggestions to Library Director
(978) 665-3196