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The University Libraries

Objectives for Library Instruction:
Upper-Level Undergraduates

Upper-division undergraduates are generally considered to be juniors or seniors; in addition anyone enrolled in 200, 300 and 400 level courses are included in this category. Students who have not achieved the objectives of library instruction for first-year students should use the library’s web tutorials designed for this purpose. In addition, they are encouraged to make an appointment with a reference librarian to seek individual assistance.

  1. Students will understand how information can be found in a variety of sources and will recognize how that knowledge can help determine the direction of his/her search for specific information.
    1. Students will be aware of the types of reference sources that are best suited to the particular discipline they are studying. These may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, directories, handbooks, or statistical sources in whatever format (electronic, print or microform) is most appropriate.
    2. Students will be able to determine when an initial question is too broad or too narrow to investigate and will be able to develop a search strategy to broaden or narrow the topic as is appropriate to the scope and complexity for the research.
    3. Students will understand that the purpose of the end product will guide the direction and type of research conducted.

  2. Students will understand the importance of the organizational content, bibliographic structure, function, and use of information sources.
    1. Students will be able to identify the major encyclopedias, indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, and other reference sources for their discipline.
    2. Students will be able to select appropriate resources based on the timeliness of the resource.
    3. Students will be able to distinguish popular from scholarly resources.
    4. Students will be able to identify primary and secondary reference sources in their fields.
    5. Students will understand the importance of evaluating the author’s/publisher’s credentials.

  3. Students will be able to identify useful information from information sources or information systems.
    1. Students will understand that keyword searching is the most common access point in electronic resources (and subject headings in print sources, if appropriate).
    2. Students will understand that titles and authors can be searched in most electronic and print indexes, abstracts, and bibliographies.
    3. Students will understand the concept of a "controlled Vocabulary," as appropriate.
    4. Students will understand how to develop an appropriate search strategy for electronic resources using Boolean operators.
    5. Students will understand how to search the Web to identify specific sources of information.
    6. Students will understand how to identify basic ways to evaluate web resources.
    7. Students will be able to identify relevant information using the techniques identified in a-f of this section.

  4. Students will understand the way collections of information sources are organized and accessed.
    1. Students will understand how to determine if a specific item is physically available at Jackson Library or other locations listed in the library’s catalog.
    2. Students will understand how to determine if UNCG provides electronic access to specific a resource