Research and Scholarship Goals

• To promote critical thinking through information literacy
• To collaborate with faculty to integrate information literacy across the curriculum in increasing complexity to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students
• To integrate best practices and current trends in information literacy in instruction and reference
• To develop and teach information literacy classes using constructivist pedagogy and methods that appeal to various learning styles and diversity of learners
• To conduct periodical assessment of programs and services
• To evaluate the information literacy program and reference services and make revisions as needed
• To design and offer a variety of classes, tutorials, workshops and course guides to students
• To offer workshops for faculty on integrating information literacy into courses, using library resources effectively and managing citations for personal and professional research

Reference Services Objectives

Reference providers strive to provide as complete and accurate a response as possible to questions from all library users. Reference providers model their behavior on the American Library Association's Reference and User Services Association's Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers. Reference providers strive whenever possible to teach patrons information literacy skills which will help them become lifelong learners.

The main objectives of Reference Services are to:

• Answer questions by providing information from appropriate resources
• Suggest information sources and approaches that are likely to serve the user's information needs
• Provide instruction in the use of the library and of library resources and services

Library Instruction Assessment

One of the most important aspects of library instruction is assessment of the program and its goals. Assessment is carried out through a variety of formal and informal methods.

A variety of assessments are conducted within library instruction sessions to gauge student learning. Assessments may include pre/post testing, short answer questions and one-minute papers. The results are used to revise instructional sessions and teaching materials.

Additionally, the library participates, when possible, in national information literacy assessments such as the Project SAILS test. Results are used to offer a peer comparison to other institutions.

The library is committed to providing a means for faculty to share feedback with individual librarians regarding their instruction session(s). An form is sent to faculty after instruction sessions to gather feedback. Feedback is used by individual instructors to improve their current teaching practices.

Questions regarding the information literacy program are included in student and faculty surveys. The surveys provide a measure of perceived satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the information literacy program.

The library actively tracks instruction statistics. By tracking details such as discipline and course level, the library is able to work with faculty to design sessions that expose students to information skills at the appropriate level and intensity.

Instruction Assessment Plan (PDF).

For more library instruction assessment information, including Project SAILS, please visit the University Libraries Assessment page.

Instruction Room Use

The primary purpose of the library's instruction rooms is to support the library's information literacy program. Currently, the library uses KLIB 110, KLIB 219 and BICL 234 as the main instructional spaces.

Due to the high demand for library instruction sessions, the instruction rooms are reserved only for librarian-led instruction sessions. Faculty wishing to locate alternative space for their classes should contact Conference Services to request access to available locations on campus.

Library instructor stations and equipment in KLIB 110, KLIB 219 and BICL 234 (including projectors) are for library staff use only. Students may use projectors in Bryan Information Commons study rooms. Upon the completion of the final instruction session for the day, KLIB 110 will be available to students for study space and computer use.

BICL 234 is used on Sundays during the academic year for tutoring through the Learning Assistance Centers. Please see their website for additional information.

Procedure for Non-Coastal Class Visits

Library instruction sessions are available to non-Coastal classes that meet the following requirements:

• The students must be engaged in a project or assignment that requires use of University Libraries research tools. When the session is scheduled the teacher is asked to provide full details of the assignment, as well as their research expectations for the session.
• Students must have already exhausted the resources of their school library and local public library before coming to University Libraries. Many of the databases used in University Libraries are also available to all school libraries in South Carolina through Discus.
• Sessions are limited to no more than 25 students at a time due to space limitations in the library. One teacher or adult must be present for every 10 students. Teachers are expected to stay with the group to help assist them in their research efforts and to model appropriate behavior.
• Sessions are only offered when Coastal classes are not in session. Please refer to the academic calendar. Teachers are urged to make arrangements at least two months in advance. Due to staffing around holidays and breaks, not all dates may be available.
• A librarian can work with your group for up to 90 minutes, depending on scheduling availability.* Groups can use the library during library hours of operation before or after their scheduled time.
• Every effort will be made to accommodate school classes, but availability of sessions is not guaranteed. Library instruction sessions are not provided for Horry-Georgetown Technical College classes since similar sessions are available at HGTC.
• Exceptions to the above requirements will be made only by the University Librarian.

Teachers interested in scheduling a session for their class should call the Research and Scholarship department at 843-349-2414 to make arrangements for the session.

* National History Day research sessions are an exception to these sessions. Please contact the Research and Scholarship department at 843-349-2414 to discuss the current procedure and available dates set aside for NHD.