Library instruction is offered to all Anne Arundel Community College classes, regardless of meeting time (day, evening, weekend) and location (Arnold, Arundel Mills, Glen Burnie Town Center, HCAT, etc.).  We strongly encourage library instruction for any class where research is required of students. 

OBJECTIVES

Students at AACC should be aware of the wide variety of information resources available to them. Using these resources, they should effectively identify, access, retrieve and evaluate appropriate information for their needs. Students should be able to conduct effective research by learning how to locate and process information. Basic research skills will be presented in entry-level and core courses. Advanced research skills will be presented in upper-level courses.

POLICIES

The library and its Instruction Librarian will:

• work with faculty members to craft assignments that lead to the development of information literacy skills, in support of the college’s Information Literacy and Research competency;
• schedule an instruction session in the library instruction room or in another classroom, and assign a qualified librarian to teach the instruction session;
• tailor instruction to the particular assignment for the course and section the faculty member is teaching;
• ask students and faculty, on occasion, to evaluate the librarian’s teaching; and
• collaborate with the faculty member if the faculty member desires to lead the instruction session in the library instruction room; the collaboration could include, but is not limited to, providing handouts, attending the session to assist with navigating electronic resources, and team teaching upon request.

The faculty member who wishes to bring a class to the library for library instruction will:

• complete a “Request for library instruction” form either in paper or in electronic form, allowing adequate lead-time, so that the Instruction Librarian can schedule the space and assign a librarian to instruct the class;
• provide the students’ research assignment in a Word or .pdf file to the Instruction Librarian, which will then be made available to the instructing librarian and to the library’s reference department;
• contact the Instruction Librarian to schedule use of the library’s instruction room, and not expect to use the group study tables adjacent to the reference stacks, as a location for holding class in the library;
• limit the size of un-scheduled student groups sent to work on assignments to four or fewer individuals, so as not to monopolize the space, resources, and personnel of the reference department; and
• provide feedback to the instructing librarian, Instruction Librarian, or Library Director, as appropriate, to ensure students receive adequate support to complete their assignments.

For more information, or to schedule library instruction, please contact Brandy Whitlock, Instruction Librarian, by phone at extension 2523 or by e-mail at bmwhitlock@aacc.edu. You may also use an Online Form to request library instruction.