LIBRARY USER EDUCATION

The Reference Department's User Education Program provides students, staff, and faculty of the University of North Florida with training in how to efficiently use the Library. Available library instruction ranges in scope from brief individual orientations to semester long training in research and electronic data retrieval techniques in the library's one credit course, LIS1001 (BLISS).

Open Tours -- Open tours are designed to provide new library users with a basic orientation to library facilities and services. An open or general tour typically consists of an introduction to the library's online public access catalog, an overview of library databases and services, and subject-specific instruction in library databases, if requested. Walking tours of the library can also be requested. Available by request throughout the semester, Open Tours are typically scheduled by the Reference Department during the first few weeks of each semester. Open Tours are ideal for students who are new to the library or who are returning to school after an absence and want to refresh themselves on services and location of materials. Open Tours are also handy for students who are not scheduled for a library orientation in any of their classes. Students, staff, or faculty interested in participating in Open Tours should contact Jim Alderman for further information or complete an Individual Instruction Request form online.

Class Lectures -- When class size is prohibitively large as to make an in-library orientation impractical, Reference staff can, upon faculty request, provide classroom lectures that provide an overview of library facilities and services. Faculty are usually more involved in this type of presentation and may coordinate the lecture with a Reference Librarian to include subject-specific content and assignments. Faculty members who wish to follow the class lecture with in-library training, upon arrangement with a Reference Librarian, may divide large classes into smaller groups and schedule follow-up instructional sessions in the library. To arrange a class lecture, contact Jim Alderman or fill out and submit a Library Instruction Request form.

In-Library Orientations -- The majority of library instruction takes place in the library, where students can be given hands-on training on the library's numerous electronic resources and be shown the library's collections and department locations. Faculty wishing to arrange an In-Library Orientation are encouraged to schedule the session at least two weeks in advance with Jim Alderman. Faculty can request an orientation electronically using the Library Instruction Request form. In-Library Orientations are typically tailored to class needs and cover research tools specific to the subject being taught. For example, a United States history class orientation would cover such electronic resources as Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life, and would focus on reference sources and periodicals that are of particular usefulness to history majors. Reference Staff welcome faculty suggestions for resources to be included in the In-Library Orientation and will work closely with faculty to provide instruction tailored to students' needs.