Curriculum-Based Library Instruction
From Cultivating Faculty Relationships to Assessment
Edited by Amy Blevins, Megan Inman
Publication date:
26 September 2014Length of book:
248 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442239135
The rampant nature of technology has caused a shift in information seeking behaviors. In addition, current trends such as evidence based medicine and information literacy mean that one time instructional sessions cannot provide our patrons with all of the skills they need. For this reason, many librarians are working to develop curriculum based instruction that is semester long or consisting of many sessions throughout an academic program. In addition to teaching, librarians are also becoming embedded in the curriculums they support by serving as web-based course designers, problem-based learning facilitators, or members of curriculum committees.
Although it is fairly obvious that library instruction is important and that librarians should be equipped to provide this instruction, the majority of ALA accredited programs offer only one course on library instruction, the courses are only available as electives, and they are often only offered once a year. Librarians need to gain their instructional experiences through real life experiences, mentors, and of course, books like this one. Many books commonly discuss one-shot sessions and provide tips for getting the most out of that type of instruction. There are not as many that discuss curriculum based instruction in a section, let alone an entire book.
Curriculum-Based Library Instruction: From Cultivating Faculty Relationships to Assessment highlights the movement beyond one-shot instruction sessions, specifically focusing on situations where academic librarians have developed curriculum based sessions and/or become involved in curriculum committees.
This volume describes and provides examples of librarians’ varied roles in the curriculum of education programs. These roles include semester long or multi-session instructor, web-based course designer, problem-based learning facilitator, and member of a curriculum committee. In addition to describing the roles that librarians have in supporting curriculum, the book describes how to carry out those roles with sections devoted to adult learning theory, teaching methods, developing learning objectives, and working with faculty to develop curriculum. Examples of library sessions devoted to information literacy, evidence based practice, information literacy, and biomedical informatics are included. This book is not limited to one mode of delivering information and covers examples of face to face, distance and blended learning initiatives.
Although it is fairly obvious that library instruction is important and that librarians should be equipped to provide this instruction, the majority of ALA accredited programs offer only one course on library instruction, the courses are only available as electives, and they are often only offered once a year. Librarians need to gain their instructional experiences through real life experiences, mentors, and of course, books like this one. Many books commonly discuss one-shot sessions and provide tips for getting the most out of that type of instruction. There are not as many that discuss curriculum based instruction in a section, let alone an entire book.
Curriculum-Based Library Instruction: From Cultivating Faculty Relationships to Assessment highlights the movement beyond one-shot instruction sessions, specifically focusing on situations where academic librarians have developed curriculum based sessions and/or become involved in curriculum committees.
This volume describes and provides examples of librarians’ varied roles in the curriculum of education programs. These roles include semester long or multi-session instructor, web-based course designer, problem-based learning facilitator, and member of a curriculum committee. In addition to describing the roles that librarians have in supporting curriculum, the book describes how to carry out those roles with sections devoted to adult learning theory, teaching methods, developing learning objectives, and working with faculty to develop curriculum. Examples of library sessions devoted to information literacy, evidence based practice, information literacy, and biomedical informatics are included. This book is not limited to one mode of delivering information and covers examples of face to face, distance and blended learning initiatives.
Editors Blevins and Inman call for academic librarians to help faculty develop curriculum. The book addresses everything from forging relationships with faculty, learning theory, and teaching techniques to blended librarianship, information literacy trends, and assessment, providing a comprehensive glance of the present and future of library instruction. Each chapter dips briefly into its topic, providing substantial knowledge and inviting further inquiry. Different library professionals write each chapter, tackling their topics with confidence and reassurance, referencing and integrating concepts from other sections. The practical advice on lesson planning is particularly beneficial. Later segments narrow the focus—to Health Sciences for an entire section, and Sociology, Business, and First-Year Writing for a chapter each—but anyone involved in library instruction is likely to learn something from them. VERDICT A fantastic guide for librarians hoping to get involved in developing curriculum with faculty, also offering advice on teaching in ways both new and old.