Library Instruction Program

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Library Instruction Program of the Columbus State University libraries to create information literate students. Through partnerships with the academic faculty and the teaching of formal courses, students develop the capabilities, skills, and experiences needed to find, evaluate , and use information resources in all formats to enhance academic, personal, and professional knowledge. Our vision is to develop in students an appreciation for libraries and other information agencies for lifelong learning.

The information literate student will:

• Define a research topic
• Locate and retrieve relevant resources in traditional and electronic formats
• Examine the characteristics of information resources
• Describe the methods by which information is organized and disseminated
• Evaluate information
• Demonstrate the steps in the research process
• Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities in presenting research

Goals

The CSU Libraries Library Instruction Program will promote information literacy in the following ways:

• Foster collaborative efforts between the library and faculty to create and integrate information literacy across the curriculum.
• Design effective library instruction courses that will facilitate the achievement of desired competencies of information literacy.
• Develop a survey instrument based on the ACRL Standards that assesses baseline information literacy levels of CSU students.
• Develop models and methods for the delivery, implementation, and communication of information literacy program initiatives.

Activities

CSU Libraries offer a wide variety of learning opportunities for students and others in need of instruction in how to conduct research using library resources and services. Instruction is available in the form of:

• One-on-one general instruction at the library reference desk or by appointment with a subject-specialist librarian.
• Assistance via phone. Call the Main Library's Reference Desk at 706-562-1492 or 706-562-1493 or, for music-related questions, call the Music Library's Service Desk at 706-641-5045.
• Assistance via the library web site via the Ask A Reference Question form. Submit your question, and someone will answer in a timely fashion.
• LIBR 1105, a 2-hour for-credit course (Area B seminar) taught by members of the library faculty.
• Subject-specific informational sessions taught by subject-specialist librarians at the request of teaching faculty in the various colleges.

Faculty interested in having a librarian provide general or subject-specific instruction in the use of the libraries' resources (with emphasis on electronic resources) should consult their liaison librarian.

Staff

All members of the library faculty participate in various forms of instruction: some offer instruction at the Reference Desk; some teach sections of LIBR 1105; all teach subject-specific instruction sessions as part of their liaison work. The Library Instruction Program is coordinated by Paula Adams.

The Instruction Team

While all library faculty are involved in the Library Instruction Program, there is a small group within the whole that focuses on library instruction. Known as the Instruction Team, this group is responsible for teaching information literacy portions of ENGL 1102. Members of the Instruction Team are:

• Paula Adams
  Library Instruction Coordinator
  Liaison for Theatre, English and Modern Languages
  Assistant Professor of Library Science
  Office: Library 312
  Phone: 706-565-3616
  Email: adams_paula@colstate.edu
• Tom Ganzevoort
  Instruction Librarian
  Liaison for Communication
  Instructor of Library Science
  Office: Library 311
  Phone: 706-565-3683
  Email: ganzevoort_thomas@colstate.edu

Links

Library Instruction Statistics Report (For library faculty use only)