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Guidelines for Creating Successful Library Assignments

Preliminary Exchange of Information with the Library

• Place items the entire class will be using on reserve (print or electronic) or on your Blackboard class page to give students equal access to materials that are required or suggested for class use.

• Contact the liaison librarian in your college or department before creating the assignment. The liaison can recommend appropriate databases and other resources.

• Provide your liaison with a copy of the syllabus, assignment or the link to the class page information.

• Arrange for course-based library instruction.

Creating the Assignment

• Search the library catalog, databases and the Web to be certain sufficient materials are available.

• Provide a resource list or recommendations for sources, such as a specific database, encyclopedia, or website.

• Make sure the assignment is clear, unambiguous, easy to read, and not wordy.

• Explain the purpose of the assignment and how it will be evaluated.

• Specify which style manual should be used, if applicable.

• Break the assignment into steps, parts, or stages.

• Do the assignment yourself, to make sure it works and that the students have enough time to complete it.

And finally, please encourage your students to ask for assistance at the Reference Desk during the early stages of their research.

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