Instruction Services Available from the Sawyer Library Reference Staff

We are eager to help you and your students meet your course learning objectives. We therefore encourage you to schedule a library instruction session for any class requiring a term paper, or any other class project requiring research.

Please schedule a library instruction session for the point in the semester when students are beginning work on their papers or projects. We find that students pay closer attention, and retain their research tips, if they know they'll have to make use of them very shortly.  We also request that you schedule ahead.  We have a busy teaching schedule and also must maintain our desk coverage, so contacting us a couple of weeks (or more) before the session not only helps insure that you can get your first choice in terms of date and time, but it also allows the teaching librarian to adequately prepare for your session.

Most Library Instruction sessions take about a half-hour to 45 minutes, according to what needs to be covered. Reference librarians would generally construct a session tailored to your course's specific needs and objectives.  To best utilize your class time, you may want to meet with students in the classroom and then come to the library for the last half-hour of a class.  Or you may schedule the session for the start of the class and then return to the classroom (if it is a longer class). Or, you may want to give the students their assignment, hold the library instruction session, and then let them remain in the library to start their research. Whatever works best for you and your students!

Class Visits to the Library

Orientation to Sawyer Library resources and services.

Usage of subject-specific resources.

Instruction on how to approach the challenges of a specific research assignment.