Instruction Policies

Types of Instruction

  • English 101. One or two, 50 to 75 minute sessions focused on the development of research question and information literacy skills. The second session should be scheduled at least two weeks after the first session, and pairs well with the Inquiry Assignment, Digital Forum, or Position Paper. 
  • University of Maryland English Institute. One or two, 60 minutes to 2 hour sessions providing an introduction to American academic libraries and an overview of information literacy skills. The second session should be scheduled at least two weeks after the first session, and pairs well with the annotated bibliography assignment. 
  • Living & Learning Programs. The UMD Libraries engage in partnerships with all types of undergraduate Living & Learning programs. In the past we have collaborated with Living & Learning programs to teach in-class information literacy sessions, lead train-the-trainer sessions with faculty and teaching assistants, and create online tutorials.  If you would like further information about our support of Living & Learning Communities, or to discuss options about how we can partner with your program, please contact Jordan Sly, jsly@umd.edu.

Scheduling

  • Request at least two weeks in advance to allow sufficient preparation time for library instructors.
  • Sessions are first come, first served. Please schedule early to ensure the time slot that best fits your students’ needs.
  • Sessions are not typically scheduled during the first two weeks, or last week, of the semester. If you have a special circumstance that may require instruction during these periods, please contact Teaching and Learning Services at libues@umd.edu
  • Second sessions should be scheduled at least two weeks after the first session. 
  • Students should come prepared with ideas for possible topics. Please schedule instruction at a point in the semester when students are aware of the assignment requirements and have had time to consider what their research focus might be.
  • Instructors must attend the session with their students. Please request sessions for dates when you will be able to attend virtually with your students.
  • Sessions will not be recorded. Students who miss their session are welcome to contact us to arrange one-on-one consultations, or to join another class session. Students also have access to the Get It Done Guide to Undergraduate Research, which includes video tutorials on searching Academic Search Ultimate and Google Scholar. 

Faculty Involvement

  • We encourage instructors to be active during the library session. In addition to providing valuable insight, your presence encourages students to be engaged in the instruction experience.
  • Provide a copy of your syllabus and/or assignment when requesting instruction. This information will help your library instructor to select the most appropriate resources and activities for your students.
  • Please share library instructor’s contact information with your students. We make an effort to pair faculty member with library instructors as early as possible. Librarians are available to assist students throughout the semester, at any point in their research process. Please share our contact information and encourage your students to get in touch with any questions!

Requesting Instruction

Request an English 101 instruction session by completing the Instruction Request Form and consenting to the Teaching and Learning Policies above. For sessions not related to ENGL101, please contact libues@umd.edu.

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