K-State Libraries - General Information Services - Library Instruction

Please select from the list below what you would like your students to learn from the Library Instruction session. Times provided are estimates for a general overview of the topic described. You will be contacted by a librarian to schedule and plan your session.

Please note that you can always work with a librarian to get more customized instruction, including a more in-depth look at any of the topics below.

Where to find help
Help Desks, Librarians and Library Staff
How to navigate the building
Collections
Stacks
Checking out materials
Self-check
Circulation Desk/Reserves
Technology in the Library
- Scanners
- Printers/Copiers
- Info Commons
- iTAC/Media Development Center

Pre-searching using general information sources
Developing many keywords
Refining/revising topic as necessary
Connecting or combining keywords
Understanding reiterative nature of research

Nature of the Catalog
Search strategies in Catalog
Reading results and the record
Finding the item
Place holds/recalls/annex requests/interlibrary loan
Getting Help

What is a database? Why is it important? What can you find there?
Selecting an appropriate database
Search strategies in the database
Identifying types of articles and other resources that may appear in the databases, including peer-reviewed and scholarly journals, indexed book chapters, news, etc.
Retrieving the full-text of the articles you want

Distinguishing between source types
- popular
- trade
- scholarly
- books
- primary
- data
Overview of the information cycle and currency of information vs. in-depth information
Matching sources to the objectives of the research or an assignment

What is it?
Why is it important?
How to avoid it
How Google and the internet make it easier to catch plagiarism

Why citations are critical
The basic parts of a citation
How to tell if a citation is for a book, article, or other type of resource.
Using Citation Linker, the catalog, or other tools to locate materials using their citations
Style guides and where to find them

The difference between the “open” or “free web” and library resources on the internet
Evaluating a website, particularly in terms of meeting research or assignment outcomes
An introduction to Google's advanced search features

What primary sources are and how they are different from secondary sources
Primary source materials and collections in the Libraries
Searching for primary source materials
Evaluating primary source materials in terms of meeting research or assignment outcomes

Creating an account
Adding citations and organizing them
Creating a bibliography
What is Write-n-Cite?

Creating an account
Adding citations and organizing them
Creating a bibliography
What is Write-n-Cite?

The government as a source of data
Types of information the government produces
Locating government information through the Libraries’ Government Documents Department
Finding information using:
- USA.gov
- http://www.google.com/ig/usgov

Not finding what you need, or want to spend more or less time in one area? Please fill out the "Other Comments" and "Learning Outcomes" box below.

Course:
Number of students:
Class meeting time:	I would prefer to schedule meeting times outside of class or this is an online class. (please use the "Other comments" box below to describe what you are interested in.)
Preferred dates:
Location:	Library (Note: please schedule as soon as possible, as librarians reserve the classrooms on a first come, first served basis) Your classroom (Note: Course instructors are responsible for providing a computer, projector, and internet connection. Please indicate your classroom location in the "other comments" box below.)
Assignment:
Learning Outcomes:
Other comments: