Library Services for Faculty

The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries' Instructional Services Program believes that a vital part of the educational process is the collaboration between librarians and faculty/instructors to help students learn research, critical thinking, and information literacy skills. The library environment is a rapidly changing one and librarians can help keep your assignments current with the most appropriate terminology, sources, and research tools. In addition, consulting with librarians before you give a library assignment to your class is a good way to ensure that resources are available and accessible so that you are able to reach the goals and objectives that you have set for your course.

The Instructional Services librarians will also be happy to have a teaching session on library and research skills tailored to your specific assignment. Click here to schedule a session for your class.

Common problems with assignments:

Library Skills

Students often lack basic library and research skills. They may not know what terms like “peer reviewed” mean or that electronic databases are not considered “Internet sources.”

Materials

When students have assignments that require an entire class to use the same resources, students become frantic when the items they need are not available or are constantly being used by others. Sometimes it is helpful to a class if an instructor places such materials on reserve.

Clarity

Even when directions seem to be clear, students often have trouble understanding the assignment. They may need verbal explanations, suggestions of sources to use and current citations for specific works.

Scavenger Hunts

Often students become frustrated because the assignment may not seem relevant to their class. They may feel that they are being asked to find obscure facts that do not truly give them the opportunity to evaluate sources or learn problem solving skills.

To schedule a consultation contact: