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CMU Library Liaison Librarian Program

How does the liaison program serve students?

"Critical thinking and information literacy skills need to be consciously merged. They must become part of the assessment criteria for American students." (Doyle, 1994 p.9)

Contact your liaison librarian for the following services designated student learning:

  • Library Instruction for course related assignments (online or face-to-face)
    • Teach students how to use the library collections effectively for their course assignments including strategically searching relevant research literature to develop research topics, critically identifying sources, and citing references correctly.
  • Research Consultations (online or face-to-face)
    • Provide one-on-one research assistance. Teaching faculty can include the liaison librarian's contact info in the syllabus, so that students can schedule appointments with the liaison librarian for research help at the point of need of different research stages.
  • LIB 197 Introduction to Library Research and Information (online or face-to-face)
    • Librarians have offered this one-credit, eight-week course for all majors since 1971. This comprehensive course teaches students to use the library collections effectively, from strategically searching the library collections, identifying relevant sources to develop research topics, critically evaluating sources, correctly citing references, etc.
  •  Workshops and Seminars
    • Offer workshops and seminars periodically by liaison librarians for students to learn to use library resources and research skills thoroughly. For example: the webinar of data management; workshops on how to use disciplinary databases; how to conduct a literature review; how to look for primary sources; etc.
  • Library Orientations
    • Give orientations for students to learn library spaces, collections, and services

How does library instruction benefit student learning?

  • Doyle, Christina S., and Syracuse, NY. ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology. 1994. “Information Literacy in an Information Society: A Concept for the Information Age,” June. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED372763.pdf
  • López-Fitzsimmons, Bernadette M., and Kanu A. Nagra. 2019. “Google vs. Library Databases: Engaging Twenty-First Century Undergraduate Students in Critical Thinking.” Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship 31 (4): 219–31. doi:10.1080/1941126X.2019.1669959.
  • Rui Wang. 2016. “Assessment for One-Shot Library Instruction: A Conceptual Approach.” Portal: Libraries & the Academy 16 (3): 619–48. doi:10.1353/pla.2016.0042. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/193128/pdf
  • Rui Wang. 2006. “The Lasting Impact of Library Credit Course.” Portal: Libraries & the Academy 6 (1): 79–92. doi:10.1353/pla.2006.0013. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/193128/pdf

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