In accordance with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education and the standards set by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the NYSID Library Instruction Program promotes the development of information literacy skills through collaboration with faculty to integrate information literacy into the curriculum of NYSID. The program provides both general and customized course-specific library instruction sessions for students and classes. Moreover, students and faculty are encouraged to set up individual appointments with librarians to discuss their research topics/strategies and to review library resources pertaining to their research/teaching areas. Our goal is to ensure that students are equipped with necessary research and information literacy skills upon graduation and to become lifelong learners afterwards.
General Library Instruction Sessions
In collaboration with the Writing Center, the Library organizes 1 to 3 joint sessions for the Fall and Spring semesters. These joint sessions, taking place during the first two weeks of the semesters, cover general knowledge and skills of using the library and basic information competencies, such as evaluating sources, citation and plagiarism. Students will receive advance email notifications about the scheduled sessions and will be encouraged to sign-up using the online form posted on the Library’s homepage 1 to 2 weeks prior to the sessions
Customized Course-specific Library Instruction Sessions
Instruction sessions for specific classes, such as Design Process and Residential Design II, are developed and customized with faculty input to optimize student learning objectives. The instruction session can also be structured to guide students to conduct research for their course assignments. Librarians create tools such as web-based “Research Guides” to help students learn to use information resources more effectively. The use of appropriate technologies to improve student familiarity with and understanding of library resources is also a key component of library instruction.
After attending a library instruction session, students will be able to:
Individual Library Instruction
Librarians are also available by appointment for both students and faculty who would like further assistance in utilizing our print and electronic resources. Walk-ins are also welcomed but are subject to the availability of librarians.
Online Library Instruction Course
Students whose classes do not come to the NYSID Library for formal instruction may access our Online Library Instruction Course on Canvas via a link on the Library’s homepage. This noncredit course is self-enrolled and self-paced. The brief tutorials provide multimedia content, interactive comprehension checks, and short quizzes, allowing students to assess their mastery of the five student learning outcomes listed above.
How to schedule an instruction session with the Library:
Fall and Spring Semesters:
Two weeks prior to the start of the semester, faculty will receive an email from the Library outlining our instruction services and welcoming any instruction requests. While instruction requests are promptly acknowledged and made note of by the librarians, specific timeslots cannot be guaranteed nor be confirmed until the Thursday or Friday before the semester begins.
Summer Session:
For Summer Session instruction requests, faculty are advised to contact the Library on an as-needed basis.
Who to contact:
Email instruction requests to: libraryinfo [at] nysid.edu, and cc. copy the librarians listed on the Contact Us page.
Customized sessions/new instruction content:
Please note that any requests for new course-specific library instruction sessions or significant changes to past instruction sessions will require at least 2 weeks of advance notice.
