Compliance Certification Report
| 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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
[Compliance] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Narrative: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is in compliance with Principle 3.8.2 because the University provides regular and timely instruction in the use of the M. Louis Salmon Library and other learning/information resources. For students, instruction is facilitated through the Library's BIB 100 course, as well as through Library staff visits to courses and programmed tours of the Library. For University faculty members, Library subject specialists or liaisons meet via faculty member department meetings on a periodic basis as part of their liaison duties. They cover new monograph and electronic acquisitions as well as new/updated Library procedures. The Library follows the guidelines of the Association of College and Research Libraries for Instruction Programs and Information Literacy. Regular and timely instruction in the use of the Library and other learning and information resources at UAH is ensured through a variety of approaches. Instruction and education in the use of computer and information technologies are fully integrated into the curricula of the general education and academic degree programs. A variety of additional services and programs are designed to ensure that instruction to students, faculty members, and staff is available on an individual basis and for specialized systems. Available as an elective, BIB 100 is a credit course that introduces students to the organization and use of libraries and their collections. The course focuses on successful research techniques utilizing traditional and computerized reference materials, indexes and abstracts, government documents, and other information sources. The course incorporates critical thinking skills, comparison techniques, analysis, and other information literacy skills. The Library instruction program is also involved with UNV 101, Introduction to University Life. This course facilitates the transition of new students into the campus community by introducing them to campus resources, academic policies, and career opportunities. The course is designed to assist students in the development of academic and personal skills that contribute to success in college, the workplace, and lifelong learning. The educational strategy includes cooperative learning, guided discovery activities, journal writing, and various assessment measures. Each academic year, the Dean of the Library sends a letter announcing the availability of Library instruction classes. The following topics covered in each Library instruction class session are updated regularly to include new products, services and offerings, such as wireless access and federated search tools. Library Topics
Technology Topics
During the Library orientation classes, subject librarians routinely poll students regarding special software/technology training needs. As a result of these polls, the Library, sometimes in conjunction with Computer and Network Services (CNS), has provided various training overview sessions various on topics not included in the list above. Usually the students called for extra information on using email and the internet. Additional evidence of timely instruction is provided by the Library instruction statistics. Library instruction has grown substantially in the past few years with instruction sessions up by 54 percent and outreach sessions slightly down. Likewise, sessions presented at departmental meetings in the colleges have grown as well. Library instruction goals are in accordance with the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education prepared and approved in January 2000 by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). As defined by the ACRL, information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." The UAH Library has set a program in place that addresses these needs. An online tutorial aimed at international students is an example of how the Library uses both new instruction techniques and new technology. UAH uses the Turnitin resource, an educational tool recognized worldwide as the standard in online plagiarism prevention. The Library administers the Turnitin program, including system maintenance and instructional support. Outside of the Library, the UAH Writing Center is involved in student instructional activity. The objective of the Writing Center is to help each client better his/her writing skills through peer consultations. Writers are encouraged to identify their most pressing concerns. The number of UAH Campus Computer Labs verify substantial access to and instruction and training in the use of technology. Additional discussion of the use of the library and other learning/information resources is included with Principle 3.4.14. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
