Library Instruction

What is Library Instruction?

The overall goal of all library instruction classes is to develop information literate students. At Valencia, an "information literate" student is able to "locate, evaluate, and effectively use information from diverse sources." See more About Information Literacy.

Request Library Instruction

Select a campus below to request Library instruction
For Lake Nona, stop by the library's reference desk or call 407-582-7107.

Scope & Format

In each active, hands-on library Instruction session, librarians engage students in learning information literacy concepts, from identifying and locating sources of various types, to evaluating and citing those sources.

Options include tailored research instruction based on class assignments and curriculum, and special topic workshops aimed at teaching specific skills, such as website evaluation.

Sessions are typically the length of one class period. Multi-class visits requiring closer faculty-librarian collaboration are welcome as well.

Per campus, variations on the traditional sessions may be available. Valencia librarians offer virtual, and embedded instruction.

Please plan to attend the session with your class or arrange for a substitute.

What to Expect @ Your Campus

East

Library instruction sessions are customized to meet the information literacy needs of students and faculty based on their assignments and courses. These sessions are interactive and often involve experiential activities based on the needs of the students. The typical library session may incorporate some or all of the following tenets of information literacy: choosing or narrowing a research topic, accessing the library catalog and online library databases, revising search phrases and keywords, evaluating and identifying websites for credibility, and ethically incorporating information by avoiding plagiarism and citing sources.

Library instruction sessions can be scheduled at the library reference desk, by email through your Division Library Liaison, by filling at the online request form, and over the phone by calling 407-582-2456. A minimum of one week advance notice is required when scheduling a library instruction session, but two weeks notice is preferred.

Lake Nona

Librarians work with each faculty member to design an instruction session to meet the information literacy needs of the class. Sessions are interactive and designed with your specific assignment in mind. Library instruction generally takes place in the computer lab so students can practice accessing the online catalog and databases and get a jump start on their research for their papers, projects, speeches, or presentations.

Library instruction can be scheduled at the reference desk or by calling 407-582-7107. Once scheduled, a librarian will contact you to develop an outline for the session. If possible, please try to schedule sessions at least a week in advance.

Osceola

Library instruction is normally a two phased session comprised of a library tour and database instruction. The library tour consists of a visual tour of the library where we meet with the class in the library and point out all the key locations of the library (i.e. the circulation desk, the quiet and group study areas and the reference desk). If the instructor has any special reference material or handouts he/she would like us to explain, we go over the material at this time. We also discuss library policies relating to loaning materials. Phase two includes moving the class to the computer lab and demonstrating the appropriate and relevant databases. We first demonstrate how to find a book in our online catalog, and then we move to the databases chosen by the instructor. A demonstration is given of how to use the database then the students try it themselves.

While this is an example of the “standard” library instruction, reference librarians are more than willing to create a custom session based on the needs of your students. In the past, we have held library instruction sessions teaching MLA formatting, plagiarism, and evaluating web resources.

To get the most out of your instruction session, please provide the librarian with as much information is possible. Let us know if students will have research topics picked out in advance, and furnish the instructing librarian with a copy of the assignment prior to the instruction session. Library instruction works best when it immediately precedes a research assignment, as the information will be fresh in the student's mind as they begin to conduct research.

Poinciana

Library instruction sessions can be a general overview of resources available to students, or a targeted instruction based on an assignment. Librarians work with each faculty member to design an instruction session to meet the information literacy needs of the class. Sessions are interactive and designed with your specific assignment in mind. In most cases, library instructions are held in the classroom using laptops. Instructors are required to attend library instructions with the class.

Please submit your request at least one week in advance and with at least two date choices. This will ensure the availability of the librarian, access to a laptop cart, and adequate preparation of materials. A customized presentation will require a copy or description of the assignment at the time of your request. If you would like a specific database covered, please include this as well as any other specific topics you would like covered. The librarian may contact you to discuss your assignment in more detail.

To request library services, please click here or contact Karene Best.

West

Library instruction sessions with librarians focus on information literacy concepts. The specific activities for the session are dependent on the needs of the students, the assignment and the course. Once scheduled, a librarian will contact you to discuss an outline for the session.

Virtual library instruction is available as an option for any course.

Face to face classes are typically scheduled in Classrooms 6-220 (27 workstations) and 6-221 (23 workstations). Classroom 6-118 may also be used (24 workstations).

Instruction sessions on Power Point as well as other Microsoft Office applications, courseware and software are available from the Computer Access Lab. Please contact Kelly Knauth, x1631.

For scheduling questions, please contact Devika Ramsingh, x1536. For all other questions regarding Library Instruction, please contact your Division Library Liaison.

Winter Park

Library instructions can be a general overview of resources available to students, or a targeted instruction based on an assignment. In most cases, library instructions are held in a computer lab. Instructors may also request dedicated research time in the library itself. Instructors are required to attend library instructions with the class.

In either case, please submit your request at least two weeks in advance and with at least two date choices. This will ensure the availability of a librarian, access to a computer lab, and adequate preparation of materials. A customized presentation will require a copy of the assignment at the time of your request. If you would like a specific database covered, please include this as well as any other specific topics you would like covered. A librarian may contact you to discuss your assignment in more detail.

To schedule an instruction, please visit the library in person, or contact Reggie Davis.

What to Provide

Please provide a copy of the assignment prior to the instruction session; it is essential for the librarian to prepare a session that meets your students' needs. In addition, the following information will also help the librarian prepare for and deliver a great session:

• Whether students will have research topics picked out in advance
• Whether your students will be working in groups, and whether the groups are pre-selected
• Whether you will need any of the class period for other class business
• Whether any of your students will require accommodations under ADA.