Searching and Evaluating Websites |  Effective Assignments Using Library Sources | Goals and Outcomes

The Library offers class tours, demonstrations, and hands-on instruction in the use of library materials and basic information literacy skills.

Without instruction, most students never take advantage of even the most basic and useful library resources available to them. Finding relevant information easily and quickly in a variety of formats is not only critical to successful academic research, but is becoming a lifelong survival skill in today's world.

Our goals include teaching students:

• how information is created and disseminated
• how to find and use information in libraries and online
• how to be proficient at determining useful, truthful, and relevant information
• how to use information ethically

Library instruction sessions can be scheduled for any UHH and HawCC class using the online library instruction request form or by contacting Thora Abarca at 974-7343 or tconner@hawaii.edu Library instruction sessions can be scheduled through the end of the 13th week of classes.

Integrating Information Literacy Instruction into Your Course is a brochure (.pdf) that describes these and other ways to incorporate library instruction into the classroom.

Library Tours
Instructors may arrange for a librarian to take their class on tour to introduce students to library services and collections and subject-specific reference sources.

Basic training
A self-paced series of online modules delivered through WebCT teach students how to find and evaluate information found in this library and on the Web. Completion is required of all English 100 students. The modules cover: 

• What information is, who creates it, why it is created, how it is circulated, and in what formats (books, journals, Web, etc.) it is available
• How to effectively search the Hawai'i Voyager online catalog for books, selected documents, and audiovisual material and determine where to find it in this library
• How to effectively search print and electronic periodical indexes for journal articles
• How to decide if the information retrieved from a search is useful, accurate, and reliable

The UH System offers assistance with WebCT: Tutorials and FAQs

Specialized Lectures
Instructors are encouraged to bring students in for an orientation session to major reference sources, periodical literature, and recommended websites for their disciplines.

Librarians can tailor a session to meet any research need(s), focus on a particular assignment or student learning outcome, include time for hands-on activities in the library classroom for any subject, guide you in the preparation of effective library research assignments, and collaborate with you to design a library session that will provide a meaningful learning experience for your students.

Librarians can also teach students how to search for and evaluate websites using a variety of search engine types and search strategies.

LILO (Learning Information Literacy Online)
An interactive, web-based tutorial that guides students through the research process. It can be integrated with a research writing assignment and includes an assignment calculator, keyword builder, and citation builder. Students complete an online journal documenting their research progress that can be printed or e-mailed to the instructor.

Individual help
When staffed, the Reference Desk welcomes research questions, inquiries on how to use particular databases or library equipment, such as the Voyager online catalog or microfilm readers/printers. Reference providers can help you think through a topic, recommend useful sources, show you where these materials are, suggest Internet sources, demonstrate the most effective search engines, and show you how to effectively find information on your topic quickly.

Stop by if you're in the library, call us at 808 974-7346, or submit a question to our Ask-a-Librarian e-mail reference service.

Independent learning
Learning on your own can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Independent learners can access online research guides that will help you get started with a research project.

Instruction by appointment
Students can make an appointment with an Instruction Librarian or Subject Specialist for help on research papers or projects. We won't do your papers for you :o but we can help you find information if you're not having much luck and teach you how to find it on your own next time.

RefWorks
Training for this web-based bibliographic software can be scheduled for individuals or groups.  Training takes approximately 60-90 minutes, and availability will depend on demand. Faculty are welcome to schedule RefWorks training for their classes. Ask-a-Librarian if you would like to discuss training opportunities (in your request, please include some dates and times that would work for you).