"Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning."
The CSUB Library offers library instruction to students, staff, faculty, and the community.
Library Orientations
Designed to familiarize library users with the Walter W. Stiern Library, library orientations acquaint students with our collections, services, and policies.
Course, Subject, or Assignment-Specific Instruction
Instruction sessions may be tailored to highlight library resources specific to a subject area, assignment, or research topic. They are taught according to the needs of the class by librarians who serve as subject area specialists.
Information Literacy Instruction
Information literacy is a set of skills that enable individuals to recognize when information is needed and to have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use the needed information effectively and ethically. It is often included in subject-specific instruction and library orientations, but our librarians can facilitate short focused workshops on key IL skills and strategies. Contact Rebecca Penrose to discuss possible workshop topic options.
Individual Help & Research Consultations
Subject specialist librarians are happy to provide one-on-one assistance in the form of research consultations (30-40 minute appointments). Contact your subject librarian directly to schedule an appointment.
Online Instruction / Tutorials / Research Guides
Online tutorials (e.g., plagiarism, popular vs. scholarly sources) may be used by individual students wishing to enhance their skills, or by professors in conjunction with a course or assignment. Most tutorials offer a quiz, so instructors are encouraged to link to these from Blackboard or Canvas and/or assign them to their students for credit. Research Guides are also useful for identifying discipline-specific resources.
Collaborate with a subject specialist librarian before the semester begins to brainstorm ideas for incorporating information literacy elements into course assignments and activities.
Schedule a library instruction session or research workshop when students are at the point-of-need (e.g., after receiving a research assignment).
Work with a subject specialist librarian to tailor the workshop to the specific research needs of the class.
Encourage students to request additional assistance at the Reference Desk, via online chat or email, or by making an individual appointment with a subject specialist librarian.
Assign one of the library's online tutorials for a class or direct/link students to the research guide in your discipline.
Join the semester-long GE Faculty Learning Community designated for Information Literacy! (Contact Rebecca Penrose for more details.)
