174.2 Reference and Library Instruction

174.2 Reference and Library Instruction

A. Background

The growth of the Internet and other electronic sources of information has greatly expanded the range of resources available to members of the University community through the library, but it has also made the research process more complex.

B. Policy

In order to help students and faculty to make the most effective use of information resources, the library provides a range of services including reference assistance, an instructional program with a focus on information literacy, and a variety of user instruction materials.

C. Guidelines

1. The library provides support for use of an evolving array of traditional and electronic information resources. Some of these can only be accessed from one of the library facilities, but many can be accessed campus-wide.

2. Reference assistance on all subjects is provided at the James B. Duke Library. Specialized reference assistance is available at the Robert J. Maxwell Music Library. Reference assistance is available according to a set schedule which is posted at the reference desk. Comprehensive reference service is available to students, faculty, and staff. Basic or directional service is available to other patrons, except in Government Documents and Special Collections where specialized reference services are available to the wider community.

3. The library conducts a curriculum-integrated library instruction program. Librarians partner with course instructors to develop specific course designs for each class. The library will continue to develop this program with the goal of introductory sessions for all freshman, discipline-specific sessions in upper level classes, and capstone information literacy sessions for all majors. Faculty who wish to include online bibliographic searching or other library instruction as a part of their course requirements should contact the Reference Department to make plans.

4. Library research guides for patrons are available on the library webpage. Print versions of many of these guides are available in the James B. Duke Library.

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