The Role of Instruction in a Contemporary Research Library

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The Role of Instruction in a Contemporary
Research Library

• Michelle Baildon
• November 10, 2005
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries

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Some Basic Questions to Guide Our Thinking

• What characterizes the contemporary research
  library?
• What is instruction, and how can we best do it?

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What characterizes the contemporary research
library?

• Rich in resources
• Digital library--experienced primarily online
• Fluidity of resources--blurred boundaries
• between genres
• between library and the rest of the world
• Not spatially or temporally localized
• Dare I say . . . Its postmodern
• (See also Marlene Manoff, Hybridity, Mutability,
  Multiplicity Theorizing Electronic Library
  Collections, Library Trends, Vol. 49, No. 1,
  Summer 2000, pp. 857-876.)

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What is instruction, and how can we best do it?

• Evolving ideas
• In-person instruction
• Online instruction
• And beyond . . .

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In-Person Instruction Covering the How-Tos
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In-Person Instruction Covering the How-Tos

• The mechanics of library research
• How do I get around the library?
• What does the library have, and how do I use it?
• Bibliographic Instruction
• The role of instruction Orient students to the
  library and its resources

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In-Person Instruction Concepts, Strategies,
Framework
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PowerPoint slides from a session for HS300-70
History of Racism, Spring 2005
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In-Person Instruction Concepts, Strategies,
Framework

• Understanding the information landscape
• What do I need, and which tool will deliver it?
• What am I looking at now?
• Information literacy
• The role of instruction
• Teach students that information has organization
  and purpose
• Emphasize the need for discernment

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Online Instruction Whenever You Need Me . . .

• Shortcomings of face-to-face instruction
• There isnt enough time in an hour
• Students just dont remember
• Interactivity and hands-on learning are important
  too
• We can shift some instruction online
• Use course guides to remind students of resources
• Use online guides and tutorials to reinforce
  basic skills
• Also teach advanced skills online
• Role of instruction Be available to teach
  students when they have time, when they need
  help, and when theyre ready to learn

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http//www2.bc.edu/baildon/
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Blurring More BoundariesEverything Is
Instruction

• Every manifestation of the library instructs our
  patrons on how to use it.
• Library design
• Where do we steer patrons?
• How do we label?
• Library web site design
• Do we show that there are different kinds of
  resources?
• Do we make it easy to evaluate resources?
• How does the catalog display different search
  options?

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What Else Is Instruction Good For?

• Fosters collaboration with faculty and promotes
  mutual understanding
• Maybe the most important result
• A reminder librarians are people too!
• Im here to help