Standard Number 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.

Full Compliance

Georgia Southern University provides numerous avenues for students, faculty, and staff to receive appropriate training in a timely manner in the use of the library as well as other learning and information resources. Chief among these training initiatives are those provided through the University's Henderson Library. The library tasks Information Services with the responsibility for assisting users with the library's information resources in both print and electronic formats. Librarians offer workshops on library and computer skills and are also available to provide instruction to any University class. This instruction can be tailored to the research and computer needs of that particular class. Librarians will also consult on an individual basis with students and faculty. These services are available during the library's normal operating hours, which, as published on the library's web page , are quite extensive.

The library also publishes on its web site an extensive collection of “how to” guides which document the breadth and depth of training available in the information resources maintained by the library as well as other resources of interest to students and faculty. These guides cover topics ranging from citation styles, using GALILEO, software manuals, to information sources more discipline specific. Since these are maintained on Henderson Library's web page, users have virtual 24/7 access. More formal instructional orientation includes workshops covering research and computer skills . Again, the library maintains the schedule for workshops along with the roster of workshops currently being offered on its web page. The majority of workshops are offered in August and September during the fall semester in order to best meet the needs of students and faculty. Users register for these sessions directly online.

Furthermore, regular instruction in the format of an orientation is provided to all first year students through GSU 1210—University Orientation I. More in-depth instruction is given to selected Composition I and II sections (part of the core curriculum), as well as to selected research and methods courses within each college. Beyond these approaches, Information Services librarians reach users through presentations on library resources to student professional organizations, point-of-need instruction, and one-on-one requests ensuring that students and faculty have access to timely instruction. More recently, emphasis has been placed on research instruction to high student credit hour courses with a research component (e.g., BUSA 1105—Introduction to Business, and ECON 2105—Economics in a Global Society).

Instruction to distance learners in the use of library resources is primarily provided online. GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online), an initiative of the Board of Regents of the University of Georgia , is essentially an Internet-based virtual library, providing access to a plethora of information resources including secured access to licensed products. Participating institutions have access to over 100 databases indexing thousands of periodicals and scholarly journals—over 5,000 of which appear in full-text. Other resources include encyclopedias, business directories, government documents, as well as an online tutorial providing instruction in using the system. Moreover, since more than 2,000 educational institutions in Georgia participate in GALILEO (including University System of Georgia institutions, K-12 schools, public libraries, adult technical institutes and colleges, and a group of private academic colleges and universities), no matter where a student lives, a library nearby provides access to GALILEO and hence to online tutorial training in using this valuable resource. The Online Library Learning Center (OLLC) on GALILEO currently consists of ten modules in addition to the traditional Help Menu.

Student and faculty satisfaction ratings for Information Services's instruction sessions described above are consistently high. Using a Likert-type scale (strongly disagree = 1 to strongly agree = 5), user survey results for the Spring 2002 semester were as follows: key points of instruction were achieved—4.55; instruction was relevant and useful—4.62; instruction was clear and understandable—4.51; handouts were relevant and useful—4.27; online pathfinders (guides) were relevant and useful—4.59; I gained new and useful information for my assignment—4.34; and format (demonstration/hands-on) used was appropriate for content covered—4.47. In addition, instructors are peer reviewed and feedback is provided to the instructor.

As these results indicate, the creation of user navigational tools and research guides is a key factor in the library's success in providing widely accessible training to its users. Handouts that serve to instruct students, faculty, and staff on the use of library resources become potent navigational tools online. Equipped with direct links to item records in the catalog, to full text databases, and to full text sources online, tailored research and traditional subject guides are accessible 24/7 as instructional tools to facilitate instruction and learning in and out of the classroom by faculty, students, as well as self-directed, campus, and distance learners.

The Distance Learning Center also provides training on the learning and information resources supported through this department. Before engaging in distance learning activities, faculty are oriented and trained in distance learning techniques, procedures, and protocols. The Center offers one-on-one assistance in delivering courses through GSAMS and interface design and application development. Additionally, the Center supports WebCT with online tutorials and point-of-need instruction.

Additional training opportunities are available to the University's faculty through the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET). The CET functions primarily as a training unit to facilitate the use of learning technologies in teaching. Furthermore, it is a place where faculty at all levels and from all disciplines can find others who are willing to share their experiences about what works and what does not work in helping students learn. The Center houses the Faculty Technology Development Lab , a modern computing facility designed to provide ongoing training for faculty who wish to integrate new instructional methodologies and emerging technologies into their teaching. Additionally, the Center sponsors a variety of workshops (including online workshops ) that offer hands-on instruction in and short demonstration sessions of instructional tools. In conjunction with Information Technology Services, the Center provides training on accessing the BANNER data warehouse for student advisement and for accessing student and course records. Similarly, the Center also offers training in WebCT.

Information Technology Services provides online tutorials to students on using e-mail, creating a personal web page, and for students residing in the residence halls, on how to get connected to GSNet and the Internet. Likewise, online tutorials for faculty address using e-mail, GroupWise, GroupWise on the web, and creating personal web pages. This department also staffs and maintains the campus' general and special purpose computer labs to ensure equal access to all faculty and students to these training resources.

Finally, many courses provide students with additional training in library and information resources unique to the content area of that course as illustrated through the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online degree program. This degree program addresses the special needs of distance learners by mandating attendance at a “special” orientation session prior to the start of classes. Students are required to come to campus for this daylong orientation session where they receive the undivided attention of the Chair of the School of Nursing , the faculty in the program, a staff member from the Registrar's Office, a staff member from Henderson Library, and a staff member from the Distance Learning Center . Instruction is devoted to providing these online students with the training they need to develop the abilities necessary to succeed in their online education. Specifically, four hours are dedicated to an intensive library orientation to ensure that students know how to access library materials via Interlibrary Loan, database searches, the library's electronic catalog, as well as GALILEO. Additionally, students receive training to allow them to navigate confidently in both WebCT and in WINGS (Web Interactive Network for Georgia Southern—student information system).