Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) allows regular access to library and other learning/information resources and provides timely instruction on their use.

LSU Libraries is composed of Middleton Library (main location) and Hill Memorial Library (special collections). Music Resources, Education Resources, and Government Documents/Microforms are distinct collections housed within Middleton. Other resources on campus include the Cartographic Information Center, Veterinary Medicine Library, Louisiana Transportation Research Center Library, and Center for Energy Studies Library, but each of these is separate administratively from LSU Libraries. Additionally, the Hebert Law Center supports a Law Library located on the Baton Rouge campus.  All university libraries and information centers are staffed and accessible throughout the year to assist and instruct students, faculty, staff, and community users in the libraries’ collections, ensuring that users have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources.    

Middleton Library

Middleton Library has one reference desk staffed by librarians and library school graduate students that provides library users opportunities for consultation on an as-needed, face-to-face basis [1]. The reference desk is staffed during the regular school year from 9 AM until 8 PM from Monday through Thursday, until 6 PM on Fridays, from 10 AM until 5 PM on Saturdays, and from 11 AM until 8 PM on Sundays.  Students, faculty, and the general public can also contact LSU librarians and library staff for assistance using email, phone, online chat, and text messaging [2]. LSU Libraries’ Website provides 24/7 access to numerous online tutorials for instruction in how to access and use library resources [3]. Additionally, LSU Libraries provide 24/7 access to nearly 100 subject guides for various disciplines or courses across campus [4].  These subject guides, which list discipline/course specific article indexes, databases, e-resources, books, websites, and professional organizations, are created by library liaisons to assist faculty and students with their research needs [5].

LSU Libraries offers regular and timely library research instruction mainly for undergraduate students upon request of any LSU faculty member in any discipline. These instruction sessions occur throughout the calendar year and require two weeks or less notice for scheduling purposes [6]. In 2012, librarians and other qualified staff taught 209 sessions, which were attended by 4,526 students [7]. The 45-minute long sessions are hands-on and usually are taught in a classroom in the library that is equipped with 21 computer terminals, a multimedia lectern, and projector.  Such one-time instruction can also be done in the teacher’s regular classroom, provided the classroom is equipped with a multimedia lectern and projector.  These library instruction sessions are assessed by use of an online form that allows for students to provide feedback about the session [8]. The librarians use this feedback to guide future instruction in terms of content and presentation style. All librarians in the Reference Department are trained in this type of instruction.  Instruction sessions can be modified to focus on resources specific to a particular subject area if this is desired by the faculty member requesting the instruction; in this situation, the libraries’ appropriate subject specialist librarian will handle the specialized session [9].

LSU Libraries offers 24-30 sections of a credit-bearing course each academic year specifically focused on the use of library resources to do research.  LIS 1001, Research Methods and Materials, is a one-credit-hour, hands-on, computer-intensive course, in which students learn to use library tools and information resources, such as the library’s online catalog and full-text electronic databases such as Academic Search Complete and LexisNexis Academic [10]. The half-semester course is taught by the instruction librarians in a dedicated classroom equipped with 21 computer terminals, a multimedia lectern, and projector.  The class is also offered entirely online using the library’s many online tutorials, materials created by the individual instructors, course management system software (Moodle), and the Internet.  The course is based on the ACRL’s information literacy competencies [11]. In 2012, 764 students were enrolled in LIS 1001 [12]. The learning objectives of LIS 1001 are assessed on a regular basis by administering to enrolled students a pre-test and a post-test based on key questions that cover the basics of information literacy [13]. Based on the pre-test and post-test data, the libraries’ instruction committee modifies the content of the LIS 1001 course as needed. One modification was the creation of a common course outline in order to standardize the instruction [14].

LSU Libraries has a dedicated instruction coordinator who is responsible for coordinating all library instruction activities, including scheduling one-shot instruction sessions as requested by LSU faculty and instructors, scheduling LIS 1001 sections, supervising instruction librarians, and leading the libraries’ Instruction Committee.  The instruction coordinator also manages the library instruction as it relates to changes to university policies.  For example, in 2013 the Manship School of Mass Communication dropped its requirement that students majoring in this subject must take LIS 1001.  In light of this change and a corresponding decrease in LIS 1001 enrollment, the instruction coordinator worked to broaden LIS 1001 activity in residential colleges so that LIS 1001 will be offered in the fall 2013 semester to a number of these residential colleges (those involving first-year students, along with the Agricultural, Global Connections, Information Technology, and Science residential colleges) [15].

The libraries’ Instruction Committee, headed by the instruction coordinator, is composed of the librarians who instruct LIS 1001, and this committee meets regularly to discuss instruction strategies, ideas for improving instruction, and ways to improve the course overall and library instruction generally at LSU.  Examples of products of their activities are an Information Literacy Strategic Plan [16] and a common course outline for LIS 1001 to guide instruction librarians in their approaches to the course.

LSU Libraries has also recently employed and is currently interviewing for a new instructional technologies librarian, whose job will largely be to take on “a leadership role in exploring, recommending, implementing, training, and promoting the usage of instructional technologies in the application of instruction and library services.”  Having such a librarian is a great aid to the other instruction librarians and all librarians involved in instruction, since staying abreast of the latest and best instructional technologies is crucial to providing the best possible instruction for LSU library users.

Government Documents

The Government Documents/Microforms Department offers onsite instructional lectures and tours.  These offerings are usually made in conjunction with LIS classes, most commonly the LIS 1001 classes.  Some of the School of Library and Information Science graduate classes visit for instruction and tours.  In the academic year of August 2011-July 2012, for example, the number of lectures/tours given to LIS 1001 and SLIS classes was 17.  The Government Documents Department sponsors special instructional events at least once a year. The department also has three display areas that are changed out at least quarterly and are used to educate students about the broad scope of government information. 

Special Collections

LSU Libraries Special Collections contributes in a variety of ways to the LSU Libraries’ mandate to provide access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources.  Special Collections provides reference assistance to remote and on-site users via a main reference desk in the reading room and an “ask a librarian” form on the Website.  Special Collections is open to LSU faculty and staff, graduate students, undergraduates, and the general public.  Neither affiliation with the university nor approved credentials are prerequisites for receiving assistance.  Patrons may visit Special Collections in Hill Memorial Library during reading room hours or submit inquiries via email, fax, letter, or phone [17]. In fiscal year 2010-2011, Special Collections responded to 1,268 correspondence inquiries and had 6,798 service desk transactions with patrons. 

Curators or other Special Collections subject specialists are also available to meet with researchers to assist in developing a research strategy and to share knowledge about collections relevant to a patron’s topic. Tutorials, search tips, and pathfinders are available online to instruct patrons in how to identify relevant resources in Special Collections [18].

Special Collections curators and subject specialists offer several options to faculty who want to incorporate Special Collections’ holdings into their courses.  Several methods of instruction are employed: classes meet in the Hill Memorial Lecture Hall and use Special Collections materials selected by the faculty member; curators and subject specialists meet with classes and provide an introduction to using Special Collections resources, research strategies specific to the types of materials in Special Collections, and how these materials are cataloged, described, or presented online; curators and subject specialists work with faculty to design appropriate assignments based on Special Collections’ holdings; and curators and subject specialists identify and present Special Collections resources specific to the focus, topic, or discipline of the course.  In fiscal year 2010-2011, Special Collections made over 50 such presentations to 1,244 students in coordination with more than fifteen professors in landscape architecture, English, history, human ecology (historic costume), medieval studies, library and information science, geography, anthropology, music, and education.  Most of these courses meet in the Lecture Hall of Hill Memorial Library.  Consequently, Special Collections also provides instructional space.

Special Collections also contributes to the instruction efforts of LIS 1001 classes.  A number of LIS 1001 instructors include a presentation by a Special Collections librarian in the Hill Memorial Lecture Hall in their course schedule to introduce students to primary source materials and instruct them in the particular resources of Special Collections and their policies and procedures.    

Special Collections faculty and staff curate, research, and mount on-site and digital exhibits drawn from the holdings of Special Collections.  Hill Memorial Library has two display galleries featuring three to five major exhibitions each year.  In addition, three to five “mini” exhibitions in the Lecture Hall are mounted to highlight campus or community events, anniversaries, or historic happenings [19].

Special Collections faculty and staff organize and host lectures, panels, and informal talks that support or showcase research based on Special Collections’ holdings or relate to issues of relevance to archives and rare books or the topical content of Special Collections acquisition areas.

Distance Education and Online Learning

The LSU Libraries is committed to providing distance education and LSU Online students with library services comparable to those at the main campus.  Regarding instruction in the use of the library’s resources and services, in particular, the library offers to distance education students a 1-800 number for reference services [20]. A distance education librarian is also available via email for individual assistance and problem-solving. Other services and library information for distance education students and faculty, such as locating/obtaining books and articles, interlibrary loan, style guides, and how-to-use-the-library tutorials can be found on the Libraries Distance Education Webpage [21].

In 2005, the distance education librarian conducted a survey of graduate students in the School of Library and Information Science. There were 143 distance education students the semester the survey was conducted, and 84 responded.  Of those respondents, most gave LSU Libraries a high rating (four or five, five being the highest/best) regarding quality of service and ease of use.  Because of the feedback certain service issues and the libraries’ distance education Webpage were addressed [22].

In addition to the distance education librarian, there are specific library liaisons for each course offered through LSU Online [23]. These library liaisons are available to assist faculty and students with their research and library instruction needs.

Music Resources

Music Resources primarily supports the LSU School of Music, which is part of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts.  A public service desk is continuously staffed during operating hours. All staff, including student assistants, are trained in locating materials, answering informational questions, and accessing electronic information. Reference service is also provided by telephone and e-mail. The librarian provides individualized instructional sessions and specialized classroom instruction to graduate and undergraduate students at the request of students or professors. For academic year 2012-2013, the librarian participated for part or all of the semester in two graduate level courses (MUS7600 and MUS 7800), teaching 29 students [24].

Education Resources

Education Resources primarily supports the teacher education curriculum of the School of Education, particularly the methods and practicum courses, but also serves the needs of state educators.  Education Resources houses children's literature, Louisiana-approved textbooks, professional resources, audio-visual materials, and reference books pertaining to these collections.  Education Resources is open seven days a week for a total of 77 hours. The service desk is staffed during all hours that the department is open.  Student assistants answer simple reference questions, while the Education Resources paraprofessional and librarian handle in-depth reference questions, conduct tours, make presentations, provide both individual and group research assistance, and help teach classes.  In addition, e-mail and telephone assistance is available. 

During FY2012, Education Resources fielded 2,602 education reference transactions and gave six class tours reaching 174 students. Because of the proximity of Education Resources to the stacks in Room 241, the staff field many requests for assistance from the general library population (in FY2012 Education Resources assisted 1,329 patrons with general library matters).  As a result, there has been an overall increased demand for both circulation and reference services in the department.  Assistance to Education Resources’ primary users has remained constant, but the unit has seen an increase in students who are requesting Middleton assistance.

In fall 2006, the LSU Libraries Education Resources Center conducted two separate surveys (one faculty; one student) within the College of Education to evaluate service and materials [25]. In response to the results, a fact sheet for faculty was prepared and inserted in packets, which were distributed at fall faculty meetings for the departments in the College of Education. A fact sheet for students was also prepared and used in conjunction with a bulletin board display within Peabody Hall.

Cartographic Information Center

The Cartographic Information Center staff provides Map Library user orientation sessions to four audiences during a typical year. These audiences are new Department of Geography & Anthropology graduate students, landscape architecture students, map reading class students, and computer cartography class students. In addition, the staff provides individual cartographic user instruction to walk-in patrons. Further, in 2011, the staff instituted the Map Users Training Sessions (MUTS) to provide informal instruction to faculty and students who require in-depth training using cartographic materials.

Veterinary Medicine Library

The Veterinary Medicine Library provides an orientation to first-year students and offers one 50-minute class each fall.  These services average 85 attendees per year. Orientation for new students, residents, and interns who enter during the school year is also offered, serving an average of 40 people per year.

To learn more about the resources LSU Libraries provides for instruction and other services related to instruction, please see Principles 2.9, 3.8.1, and 3.8.3.