Top Ten Tips for Creating Library Assignments

1. Consult with a Librarian. Our Librarians welcome the opportunity to discuss library assignments with teaching faculty. We can work with you to ensure that needed material is in the library, suggest appropriate databases and research strategies. We would also be happy to give you feedback when your assignment is over.

2. Always check to see if we own needed resources. It can be frustrating for students to be required to use something that we don’t own. If given advanced warning, we can either purchase requested items or suggest alternative sources. 

3. Assume minimal library knowledge. Don’t be surprised to discover that many students in your classes have never been to the MCC Libraries. Moreover, while many of our students are very Internet savvy that does not necessarily mean they’re familiar yet with all of the intricacies of scholarly research. Your students might benefit from a library instruction session! 

4. Explain the assignment clearly, preferably in writing. Sometimes students misinterpret what is expected of them. It is helpful to the student and the Librarian who is helping him or her have a clear understanding of the assignment.

5. Place items that you want the whole class to use on Reserve. Avoid a mob scene and mutilation of material!

6. Please consider revising the scavenger hunt. Asking students to locate random trivia when they don’t yet have a solid foundation of research and library skills can promote learned helplessness and frustration with the library. The Librarians, not the students, end up doing the work. It’s better to provide some sort of instruction before assigning such a “hands-on” activity. That way the learning is still active but the students are using their own knowledge to answer the questions.

7. Use correct and unambiguous terminology. For example, when you say “library computer" are you referring to our online catalog or one of our full-text periodical databases? When you say that students cannot use the Internet, does that exclude our full-text periodical databases? Students tend to take instruction literally. 

8. Encourage students to ask for help. Our Librarians are professional researchers, so please encourage your students to ask for help while at either of our Libraries. We can save them valuable time by directing them to appropriate resources and suggesting specific research strategies.

9. Familiarize yourself with the Library and its resources. Our electronic resources are constantly changing so it is essential that you keep up to date with new and old databases. Sign up for one of our Library Training Tracks.

10. Notify us if you plan to visit the Library with your class. We want to ensure that each student who needs to do research at the MCC Libraries has a computer and adequate research assistance.
    
    If you call or e-mail ahead (Brighton Campus: Lori Annesi 292-2338 lannesi@monroecc.edu and Damon City Campus: Michael McCullough 262-1411 mmccullough@monroecc.edu), we can make sure that another class hasn’t already reserved that time.

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