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Many students are assigned their first substantive research
papers in college, and many feel overwhelmed by the process
— they’re unsure of where to start, what resources are available
to them, and how to use those resources effectively. It can be
frustrating and confusing without guidance. Enter Snowden
Library’s instruction program, providing research support for all
disciplines.
The core mission of John G. Snowden Memorial Library is to
collaborate with faculty to offer an instruction program centered on
information literacy concepts and strategies. The program not only
enhances students’ library research experiences for classes, but also
prepares them to be savvy information consumers beyond college.
Tracy Robinson ’18, is double-majoring in art history and
international studies, and minoring in photography. Robinson
remarks that “Even in my junior year, I appreciate the library
instruction program for its ongoing teaching in efficiently
conducting research in the databases, and with citing sources.
These proficiencies are crucial for completing most of the work here
at Lycoming, and they’ll be equally important in the ‘real world.’”
Snowden Library’s instruction program is based on the
information literacy standards developed by the Association of
College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library
Association. Four faculty librarians teach in the program, which
provides customized research instruction tailored to the course
and to the assignment. “We teach skills and concepts that help
students make the most of the limited time they have to spend
on research projects,” says Instructional Services Librarian Mary
Broussard, “which includes locating the needed information for
the assignments, helping them understand why they need scholarly
resources, and learning to read, synthesize and integrate those
sources into their own writing as they practice being contributors
themselves in scholarly conversations.”
Library and departmental faculty work collaboratively in advance
of assigning research projects, and the librarians sometimes provide
guidance in designing the assignments themselves. “Partnering with
the library provides me with incredible support in doing the difficult
work of creating research assignments that meet course learning
goals,” says Betty McCall, Ph.D., associate professor and chair
of the department of sociology. McCall, who has a longstanding
partnership with the program, also notes that “the collaboration
I do with librarian Alison Gregory on course assignments and
information literacy is integral to my classes. Students walk away
with a much better understanding of the resources and assistance
available, and they are set up for success to fully understand the
goals and expectations of the assignment.”
Lycoming students are exposed to library instruction across
disciplines. In the 2015-2016 academic year, the program had 239
customized workshops; it is staffed by library faculty members
Taryn Bartholomew ’09, Mary Broussard, Emily Hardesty and
Alison Gregory ’97. The program works with more than 60 faculty
members from 30 academic departments or areas, including
first-year seminars. The reach of the library’s instruction program
is broad, and supports the College’s student learning outcome of
graduating students who have demonstrated information literacy
skills appropriate to the various disciplines.
Supporting Student
Research
We teach skills and concepts
that help students make the
most of the limited time
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BY ALISON GREGORY ’97
CREATE THE COVETED
DEGREE OF THE FUTURE
5
T H E CO L L E G E