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Library Instruction

Let us show you how to utilize library resources and services to help you do your course assignments

Library Instruction

Haas Library will only have the first floor open. Young Library will be closed. There will not be any instruction sessions held in Haas Library, mainly due to the fact the instruction classroom is on the 4th floor. However, there may be other limitations of a physical nature due to social distancing requirements and the possibility that some librarians are not coming to campus. 

Contact the librarian for your department to see the instruction mode(s) they are providing. Options that may be possible are coming to your class to present information or having instruction sessions online via WebEx. 

The overarching purpose of Library Instruction  ...

... is to play an important role helping students succeed in their academic, career, and personal goals while here at Western and beyond. This means helping students utilize library resources and services in a variety of ways to meet their diverse information needs.

Librarians want to help in at least two main ways, one specific to assignments and one more general related to information literacy, which will be useful with academics and also with career and personal ambitions.

  1. By specific, it is meant to help students complete activities they need to do in order to complete assignments for a course, such as finding facts, finding books, journal articles, or videos to help in writing papers or creating presentations, or citing materials and creating a list of works cited.
  2. By general, it is meant to guide and assist students in becoming competent in information literacy: ability to find information, critically evaluate its credibility and the credibility of its source, and comprehend and integrate it with their work or activities. This includes developing methods of searching for resources that will meet their needs, learning how to legally access and save resources, and utilizing these resources to answer their questions or complete assignments successfully. In this light, librarians could help in meeting the WCSU Gen Ed Information Literacy (IL) Competencies in an IL designated course. 

Light bulb image: By Icons8 [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

   

The Instruction Program can be used as a tool in satisfying the WCSU Gen Ed Information Literacy Competencies in an IL designated course. 

Definition

An educated person is a critical listener and reader. He or she is able to find information, comprehend and integrate it, and critically evaluate its credibility and the credibility of its sources. Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Information Literacy Competency, students will be able to:

  • Access, navigate, identify, and evaluate information that is appropriate for their need(s) and audience(s);
  • Understand the ethical dimensions of the use of information;
  • Synthesize information to broaden knowledge and experiences and produce both independent and collaborative work;
  • Apply current, relevant technologies to solve problems, complete projects, and make informed decisions; and
  • Understand the economic, legal, or social issues surrounding the ownership, access and use of information and relevant technologies.

Image Creative Commons Zero - CC0. By Max Pixel

Alignment with WCSU Strategic Plan

Goal 1: Create, strengthen, and enhance programs and curricula that are responsive to the needs of a diverse community of learners.

  • 1 - Develop support services that address both cognitive and non-cognitive areas for all students, including first-generation and/or under-prepared students.
  • 5 - Support applied learning opportunities including research, innovation, performance, and service to support connections between curriculum, community, and careers.

Goal 2: Develop and implement processes, facilities, and support services to meet the needs of a diverse campus community.

  • 5 - Support faculty scholarly activity by strengthening and streamlining access to university-based resources and providing administrative assistance to apply for and manage external grants.

Goal 3: Create a sense of campus community and pride.

  • 1 - Strengthen online and on ground student engagement.
  • 3 - Improve opportunities for engagement among faculty and staff.
  • 5 - Increase/ strengthen pride.

Goal 4: Create a distinct identity.

  • 1 - Celebrate and promote the importance of faculty scholarly activities as part of the WCSU brand.
  • 2 - Examine the viability and purpose of designating individual programs as Signature Programs.
  • 3 - Develop the Western brand and publicize through sustained marketing efforts.