Library Instruction

Library Instruction Services

Information literacy is the ability to find, critically evaluate, and ethically use information. These skills are essential to student success, in education, careers, and beyond. Information literacy is also a key objective of Touro’s general education curriculum. The Touro Libraries provide many types of library instruction to introduce students to our wide range of resources and services, and to help them develop essential research and critical thinking skills. Check out this short video that explains the 5 components of information literacy in simple terms.

Please review the Instructional Support Checklist.

We enthusiastically invite instructor feedback, please consider submitting the Post Instruction Survey.

Library Instruction Services

Online Instruction

For online courses and campuses without access to a physical library, all of our instruction sessions can also be held virtually using free Zoom video conferencing software. These sessions are the same as in-person library instruction sessions and allow for greater flexibility. 

Schedule a Session

We invite you to contact your campus library for more information and to schedule sessions for your students. 

Review these questions before contacting us so we can better serve you and your students.

Although it is important that students know about the Libraries and the many resources available to them at the start of the semester, we highly recommend connecting your classes with the Libraries when they have a research assignment due. This establishes the clear relevance of the tools and skills covered, improving student engagement and retention. 

We offer classes in the following formats: 

Library Orientations

Orientation sessions are our most popular instruction format. Suitable for all disciplines and levels, library orientations introduce the library collection, our services, and essential research skills. We suggest that you contact your campus library to reserve your library session early, as slots can fill up during popular times. 

Subject-Specific Classes

We also offer library sessions for upper-level classes that are tailored to the subject and class content. For students who have already attended an orientation session, these classes can introduce them to additional resources and more advanced concepts and techniques. Potential topics include: 

  • Searching library resources, including the catalog, e-books, and article databases 
  • Honing searches by employing basic and advanced search techniques and strategies 
  • Evaluating the reliability and usefulness of websites and online information 
  • Identifying peer-reviewed academic articles and other types of sources 
  • Avoiding plagiarism and creating in-text citations and bibliographies formatted according to a style guide such as MLA, APA or Chicago and using a tool like RefWorks 
  • Using LibGuides to identify top resources and streamline the research process 
  • Other topics may also be covered based on collaboration between the library staff and faculty member 

Embedded Library Program

Moving beyond a single library session, the Embedded Library Program fosters collaboration between faculty and librarians to assist students throughout the semester. A dedicated librarian can provide course- and assignment-specific resources, offer assistance directly through Canvas, and/or teach one or more customized sessions. Suitable for online or in-person classes.  

Instructor Testimonials

testimonials

ProQuest Research Companion

ProQuest Research Companion supports information literacy, writing, and research skills instruction, providing a companion to instruction sessions and allowing librarians and instructors to focus on teaching more complex research and writing principles. Developed by writing instructors and librarians, ProQuest Research Companion is comprised of ten learning modules and five interactive tools—all designed to automate the key elements of the research process. 

Workshops

The library offers various online workshops for faculty covering topics such as library services, copyright, and publishing. For more information, contact Sara Tabaei.

View a schedule of upcoming library workshops here.

We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with departments and other campus units to create tailored workshops for your faculty development efforts. Please contact us to find out more information about what we can offer. 

Touro College Academic Integrity

For information about academic integrity at Touro College, please see the Academic Integrity Policy

Touro Libraries encourages proper attribution and transparency of sources. Please review our Citing Sources LibGuide.

Touro College Academic Integrity Test