Section 3: Comprehensive Standards

3.8.2 The institution ensures that users have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources.

Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
In keeping with the development of the new Liberal Learning core, the University Librarian was appointed as an ex-officio member of the Faculty Council on Liberal Learning and Academic Life, which developed and continues to oversee the Liberal Learning curriculum. Such participation ensures that the library staff understand resources and services needed for the new courses and can facilitate the dissemination of information about library activity. It is likely that library staff will contribute to instruction in new courses.

Currently, the library provides approximately 100 instructional sessions during an academic year, usually customized to the course or a specific course assignment. These sessions introduce students to the comprehensive collections, including print and online resources, and demonstrate means of accessing information and resources available from other libraries or institutions. Interest in the library appears to increase as new programs, such as communications studies, grow and develop: 1 library session was taught in spring 2003, 3 in fall 2003, 10 in spring 2004, 6 in fall 2004, and 10 in fall 2005.

Students may schedule personal research assistance through a form on the Library's web page. Since the revision of the Library's web page in January of 2006, student demand for this service has jumped from 6 in 2004-05 to 30 in 2005-06.

The library offers a series of instructional handouts in hard copy on specific topics. Assistance in finding information is available on the Library's web site, where users find the series “Info-to-go” as well as an extensive subject listing of internet resources.

Assessment findings in this area were not strong. On a nine point scale, the average for information literacy outcomes was 5.53. As a result, the library staff will infuse focused instruction into the new liberal learning curriculum, identifying with the faculty specific courses in which instruction is most critical and relevant. Furthermore, the staff plans to develop interactive online tutorials where appropriate when funding and staff become available.

Support Documentation:
Library Instruction
Snapshots of Library web pages that support instruction:
         Home Page
         Research Assistance Page
         Services Page

Additional Live Web Resources:
CNU Library webpage: http://library.cnu.edu/