Feedback from Library Instruction Interviews

Feedback Interviews
The Highlights

Purpose of Library Instruction
Words: acquaint, teach, make approachable, comfortable, public relations, find reliable resources
“To make the Library more approachable and make sure our resources are used and used appropriately.”
“So students can succeed.”
“Foster life-long learning and critical thinking.”
“Help users become more comfortable using our resources.”
“Finding and evaluating information.”

Perceived impact
More effective at point of need [said more than once]
“Instructors seem to think we are providing a useful service.”
“I like to think we are helping them and not boring them.” [reiterated]
“Once we get our hands on students, they do better.”
“[Students] are more comfortable in the Library after having come here for instruction.”
Reference questions becoming more complex.

Impact continued
Time = biggest deterrent for maximum impact
Knowing the students
Teach at an academic level
Good teaching = lead to the greatest impact
Library instruction = most important thing we do in the Library
Greater impact = when we meet the students’ needs
Communication & feedback increase impact

Not our favorite things
Students have no topic in mind
Student attitudes
Not enough time
Feeling futile
Frustration
Seas of blank faces
Preparation time required
Student sense of entitlement
Being in front of people as an authority figure

Things we like
Interested students
Appreciation from students
and faculty
When material is received well
Learning the resources better
i.e. improving skills
Variety

More things we like
Interacting with the faculty
Getting out of the basement : )
Demystifying the Library
Helping students feel comfortable
Showing the big picture

Coordinator of Instruction
The Library’s face for instruction to the rest of the campus community

Ideas
Report on instruction program as a whole (%’s)
Promoting instruction as bibliographers
Focus on ACRL’s Information Literacy Standards
Less on teaching methods
More on teaching methods
Share feedback from interviews
Faculty evaluations: change them?
End-of-semester surveys
What has worked with Cathy & other colleagues

More ideas
Encourage professors to bring students twice
Personal responsibility for teaching classes
Offering to correct or grade bibliographies
Outreach to high schools
Outreach to campus
Sell instruction program
Expand teaching repertoire
Offer impromptu workshops
Become embedded in a class

Even more ideas
Making more ties with the regular faculty
Let the Coordinator of Instruction visit instruction sessions to offer constructive feedback
Address how the English dept. will change the 101 and 102 courses.
Reconsider the Comm.101 workshop plan

The ideal student
Engaged
Asks questions
Does not need too much instruction
Receives instruction, runs with it, and wants to know the implications
Interested
Wants to solve problems
Insatiable learner

Favorite songs
Layla
Any Beatles song
Beth Nielsen Chapman
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
Songs by the group Nightingale
“DowneastAlexa”
“And So It Goes”
Songs by Billy Joel