Library instruction sessions facilitate the successful completion of course research assignments and greatly enhance the information competency skills of our student community.

MJC librarians are available to lead sessions for any class offered through the college. On the East Campus, these sessions are generally held in the Library Research Lab, which is a networked, electronic classroom with access to the Library Catalog, online databases, and the World Wide Web. Instructors of larger classes (30+), can make arrangements to have a librarian visit networked classrooms. On the West Campus, instruction sessions are generally held in the classrooms.

Library faculty work closely with classroom faculty to develop specific and meaningful instruction sessions, tailored to enhance any curriculum. These sessions can include (but are in no way limited to):

• general introduction to library services and resources
• refining topics and developing research statements
• library resources in specific subject areas
• expert searching on electronic databases
• introduction to WWW searching and evaluation
• citing sources in particular formats (MLA, APA, etc.)

In order to create the most meaningful learning experience for your class, the MJC Library strongly recommends the following guidelines in regards to instruction sessions:

• Arrange the instructional session as early as possible and include it in your syllabus.
• Sessions are more effective after students have been assigned a research project; otherwise, the librarian is answering questions that have not yet been asked.
• Please provide us with a copy of your syllabus and/or research assignment when you submit the scheduling form. This allows us to tailor the session to your unique curriculum.
• Please provide us with a copy of your syllabus and/or research assignment prior to the class visit. This helps us tailor the session to your unique curriculum. It also aids librarians in developing an effective library collection.
• Please plan on attending the instruction session, or at least being present in the library.
• When scheduling a research instruction session, please have several potential dates available. This flexibility is especially important when requesting morning or evening class times.
• Please allow a minimum notice of one week when requesting a library visit.

To arrange a Library Instruction Session, complete and submit the Library Instruction Request Form.

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If you need to bring your class to the library but do not find it feasible to have librarian-mediated instruction, please click here for more details.