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Guidelines for Effective Library Assignments
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Course-related library assignments can be an
effective way to introduce students to library research. The
following suggestions are meant to ensure students a positive
library experience and help educators in their search for a
well-designed library assignment which will both meet the needs of
the particular course and teach the student effective and
transferable research skills. It is worth noting that current
library resources and means of access continue to change and as a
result it is usually safest to assume limited knowledge and
experience with library resources on the part of most students.
- Assignment Topic
To avoid student frustration and for the safety of library
materials, it is best to give your students a variety of
topics from which to choose. If only one topic is assigned, we
run the risk of losing the one book, article, or index to
misplacement, mutilation, or theft. If you cannot avoid
assigning one topic, the best way to insure that the materials
will be there for all your students is to put them on reserve.
- Library Reserve
If there is one source which the whole class will need to
consult for quick information, you may want to put that source
on reserve. When an item is on reserve, you can specify that
is can be checked out for either 2 hours, 2 days, or two
weeks. Contact Paula Kapteyn (510-885-3770) if you would like
to place items on reserve.
- Trivia Pursuit
Trivia hunts can be fun, but they usually do not teach
students how to use the Library effectively for future
research. If you can, please avoid questions which ask for
obscure facts without giving the student the research
methodology needed.
- Reference Help
The best way the reference librarians can be of help is to
know in advance what the assignment is so we can prepare for
it. Please send a copy of the assignment and its due date to
your library liaison
so that the librarians can become familiar with it before your
students need help regarding it.
- Library Assignment Help
Librarians can help educators provide a list of complete
citations of useful sources, or types of sources, to be used
for a particular assignment. Working with a librarian, you can
verify whether or not the Library owns the particular sources
your class needs. If you would like help designing a library
assignment (taking into account new library services such as
web-based databases), please contact
your library liaison.
- Library Class Sessions
Most students can benefit from a course-related library
lecture taught by one of the librarians. With this lecture,
the librarian outlines research strategies, discusses
appropriate sources and their location within the Library, and
provides other suggestions for expediting the research
process. We also have a new computer lab in the Library
equipped to give students hands-on experience with various
electronic resources. To schedule a lecture, contact
your library liaison at least 2 weeks in advance
of your preferred date.
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