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Home / Services / Faculty Services / Library Instruction Services

Library Instruction Services

Why should you schedule a library session for your class?

We see many students at the Reference Desk who have only a limited understanding of how to do research. While they may be acquainted with basic databases like Proquest and Expanded Academic Index, they may also be completely unaware of the wide variety of specialized resources available to them. While we are glad to help your students individually at the Reference Desk and through research consultations, we would much rather teach your class as a group.

What types of library instruction does the library offer?

Course-Integrated Instruction

Course-integrated instruction is customized to meet the needs of a specific course or research assignment. We encourage you to work with a librarian to design library assignments, to schedule research skills instruction into your syllabus before the semester begins, and to introduce the librarian to the class at the beginning of the semester. Involving the librarian in more than one class session and/or encouraging students to schedule individual meetings with the librarian gives students a chance to get to know and feel comfortable with the librarians and the library.

Workshops

Workshops may be scheduled on special topics such as "Using RefWorks" or "Finding Government Documents." These workshops are usually held late in the afternoon or early evening and may be taught with members of the Learning and Teaching Center staff. Upcoming workshops will be listed on the library home page under "Announcements" and on the Learning and Teaching Center web site.

Research Guides

Reference librarians will work with you to prepare online research guides on a particular subject or for a particular course. These guides can be linked to a class Blackboard site. Contact Kathy Kurosman (kakurosman@vassar.edu) or Reference (reference@vassar.edu) if you would like an online research guide.

Classes in Archives and Special Collections

Each semester faculty from a variety of departments and programs bring their classes to Archives and Special Collections. These visits provide an opportunity for students to interact with some of the college's most treasured sources, and to learn how to use primary works (rare books, manuscripts, and archives) in their research. Because of the extensive holding in Archives and Special Collections, classes can be offered on a wide range of topics. Library staff can retrieve relevant materials for classes, and are also available to give lectures to classes. To arrange for a visit, or to discuss classroom possibilities, contact Ron Patkus at extension 5798, or email patkus@vassar.edu.

How do you schedule a library session?

To request an instruction session, contact Kathy Kurosman, Head of Library Instruction, ex. 5789 (e-mail: kakurosman@vassar.edu) or e-mail reference@vassar.edu.

You may also contact any of the other reference librarians directly:

• Barbara Durniak (5767) or badurniak@vassar.edu
• Flora Grabowska (5788) or flgrabowska@vassar.edu
• Gretchen Lieb (5770) or grlieb@vassar.edu
• Carol Lynn Marshall (7659) or camarshall@vassar.edu

Please schedule library sessions at least two weeks in advance.

How can you help make the library session more effective?

• Discuss the paper or project with the class before the scheduled session.
• Schedule the session close enough to an assignment or project's due date that there is a connection between what students learn in the instruction session and its immediate application.
• Attend the library session with your students! You are the best one to answer questions about the assignment and how the resources can help them. Students are usually more attentive when a faculty member is present and participates in the discussion.

How long does a library session last?

We usually ask for a full class period. Most of our classes included hands-on activities which require more time than simple demonstrations but lead to greater student learning.

Are the library teaching facilities available for my class?

The classroom and seminar room are available for other uses when not being used for library instruction. For more information about use of the library classroom, see Guidelines for Use of Library Teaching Facilities.