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Section III: Comprehensive Standard

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. (Instruction of Library Use)

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JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

 √ Compliance             Partial compliance          Non-compliance

NARRATIVE

Richard Bland College ensures that Library patrons have access to regular and timely library instruction. The Richard Bland College Library provides a variety of library instruction from working with individuals to presenting classroom programs. All librarians offering instruction have administrative faculty status and hold master’s degrees from American Library Association (ALA) approved programs as indicated in Comprehensive Standard 3.8.3.

During the 70 hours each week of Library operation, librarians are available for one-on-one instruction. At any time, an individual may access instruction through a tutorial on the Library website. The RBC Library Tutorial has been designed to help a student utilize the many resources available in the Library and to make the Library a more familiar place to do research assignments. The tutorial includes information on the organization of the Library, reference resources, netLibrary eBooks, periodicals, VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia), Library staff, research tips and plagiarism avoidance.

Professional library staff provide instruction in the bibliographic instruction room each semester for classes as requested by professors. Classes are available for both beginning and continuing students. New students are provided an overview of the layout of the library, library policies and procedures, and available resources and services. Continuing student instruction focuses on library resources and how to access and use those resources. In 2005-2006, the Library provided classroom bibliographic instruction for 541 students in 33 classes and in 2006-2007 for 522 students in 36 classes. Basic instruction was presented to beginning English students and research instruction was presented to students in a variety of classes including biology, religion, philosophy and psychology.

Students enrolled in online classes have access to bibliographic instruction through the Library Tutorial on the website and also through individual questions via e-mail, by telephone, and online forms.

The effectiveness of library instruction sessions is shown in the 2006 survey of 276 students. Survey results indicate that 85% of respondents agreed that the library instruction session attended was a worthwhile use of class time; 87.8% agreed that the library instruction session attended helped with various research assignments and 96.7% agreed that the instructor was knowledgeable. The survey also showed that 97% of the students had attended at least one library instruction session during the previous two semesters.

Results from this survey also show that 100% agreed that the instruction was effective in teaching the use of LION, the library catalog; 100% agreed that the instruction was effective in teaching the use of VIVA databases; 94% agreed that the instruction was effective in teaching the use of netLibrary eBooks; and 100% agreed the instruction was effective in using Interlibrary Loan services.

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Page updated November 21, 2007  | Questions or comments? Email sacsparc@rbc.edu

© 2005, Richard Bland College
Petersburg, Virginia