First Year Florida  Tags: fyf sls first_year_florida  

Design a simple assignment that requires students to use the services and collections in Library West.  Something this simple will show them how easy it is to use the library, even though it's so big!

One idea: Consider putting a book, article or video on reserve that ties into one of the topics that you are covering in class, and require your students to use the item. This simple assignment accomplishes the goal of getting your students into the library to begin to learn about the resources.

Another idea: Ask students to search Academic Search Premier (a very user-friendly database) for an article that explores the college experience. Encourage them to seek the assistance of a librarian to complete the task. Librarians are available at the Research Assistance Desk at the third floor of Library West, and online through Ask A Librarian. Most of the ideas and topics that you will be covering in your course curriculum lend themselves very well to this assignment. Some examples are study skills, learning styles, community service, Habitat for Humanity, etc.

A great idea for a library assignment is to have teams of students address one or two questions below and present their findings to the class using videos, photos, or PowerPoint.  They can film each other accessing resources to prove they understand and can use the library.

It's a fun approach!  And hey, if they put their videos on YouTube, I'd sure like to see them and use them on this LibGuide!

Some services for teams to explore are:

· Course reserves and Interlibrary Loan – what are these services?
· Study space – where is the best?
· Library West Information Commons – what is it and what can I do there?
· Getting a book – how do I find one and then check it out?
· Accessing the library remotely – how do you do it?
· Articles – what is the best place to find online articles for a paper?
· Libraries and subject areas – which one do you use for art, biology, pharmacy, history,  law, teaching children, etc.?
· Getting help – how do you contact a librarian to ask a question?

For the in-class experience, show your students our fun video that dramatizes the research process and demonstrates how students can get help from librarians. You can check out a copy of this brief video (22 minutes) at the circulation desk in Library West course reserve (listed under SLS 1102).

Librarians to the Rescue is also available on our UFlibraries YouTube channel in three parts.

Assign your class a fun crossword puzzle that covers library basics. Students can use our online guide for new students, Just Getting Started, to research the answers. Download the PDF here. Contact Jana Ronan for the answer key.