On this page we describe some of the services the WCC Library offers to support instruction. The list isn't complete, however; The Library welcomes all types of collaboration with instructors, so please contact us if you have an idea about how the Library can serve you and your students.

To better assist your students with assignments that require research or a visit to the Library, we recommend consulting with a librarian in advance. Librarians can:

• Help instructors integrate information literacy instruction into assignments or courses.
  
  
• Prepare to have the best resources available to meet your students’ needs.
  
  
• Create online pathfinders to help students find high-quality information relevant to their assignment.

• Serve as an "Embedded Librarian" in your Laulima course.
  
  
• Help you find online resources for use in your classes and Laulima, including books, articles, videos, audio recordings, images and more.

Contact the Reference Desk at 235-7338 to discuss any of these possibilities.

The Library offers class presentations and learning activities tailored to your specific courses and assignments. Examples of these include:

• Narrowing Topics: Students practice turning their broad interests into compelling and manageable research topics using simple focusing techniques. (~15 min.)

• Evaluating Resources: Students practice evaluating sources of information for quality, trustworthiness, timeliness, etc. Focus areas can include:
• Primary vs. Secondary Sources (~20 min.)
• Popular vs. Scholarly Articles  (~20 min.)
• Analyzing an Information Source in Detail (~30 min.)
• Verifying Authority & Credibility (~30 min.)


• WCC Library Databases: a survey of our digital resources, either in general (and guided by broad interests of the students) or in particular (in-depth exploration of one or two databases), or something in between. (~20-60 min)
  
  
• Google:  A tour of under-utilized and less-familiar Google Search features like Google Scholar, Advanced Search, Image Search, plus tips for getting the best results from any Google search.  (~20-60 min)
  
  
• E-Books: An introduction to electronic book collections available through the WCC Library, Hawaii State Library, and the open Web. (~20-40 min)
  
  
• Citing Sources: An introduction to referencing information sources, including access to helpful tutorials, models, and tools. (~20-30 min)
  
  
• Annotated Bibliographies: A guided, hands-on exercise in finding an information resource, formatting its bibliography entry, and writing a useful annotation. (~40-70 min)
  
  
• LILO - Learning Information Literacy Online: Instruction on using UH Libraries-created tutorials in conjunction with an actual research project. (~20 min)
  
  
• Special Topic Resources: A customized introduction to research strategies, library materials and online resources useful for a specific discipline or assignment. For examples, see our librarian-created Guides at guides.wcc.hawaii.edu. (~30-70 min)

To arrange an instruction session, contact Tara Severns at 235-7440 or severns@hawaii.edu.

You can schedule classroom use of videos, either from the WCC Library or other UH libraries. To reserve a video for a classroom showing, please contact Trudy Miyaji at 235-7437 at least two weeks before your anticipated viewing date.

Use our Reserves service to make specific instructional materials available to your students. You can put either personal or library copies of books, articles, sample papers, videos, sound recordings, or other items on reserve.

You designate whether students can borrow reserve materials for 2 days, 7 days, or for use within the Library. Contact Diane Teramoto at the Circulation Desk at 235-7441 to make arrangements.

LILO is an interactive guide to each step of the research assignment, from choosing a topic, to finishing the bibliography, and everything in between. It integrates a research tutorial, assignment calculator, and citation builder with your research assignment to help your students succeed.

Furthermore, it allows you to assess your students' critical thinking and information skills using national standards.

For more information about LILO, or to schedule an introductory session for your class, please contact Tara Severns at 235-7440.

We always welcome your suggestions for books, DVDs, and other materials that support your curriculum.

Use our online Suggestion Form.

You can get more involved by participating in the instructor's "Shopping Spree." Depending on available funding, we invite applications from faculty willing to help us identify outdated library materials in their area of expertise. In exchange, we grant money to purchase newer, better resources for the Library's collections. Keep an eye out for announcements about the next Shopping Spree.

The Library also has books on pedagogy and other teaching resources.