Middlesex Librarians collaborate closely with faculty, staff, and campus partners to integrate information literacy into the curriculum, empowering students with the essential skills and knowledge to navigate the complex and evolving information landscape. Faculty are strongly encouraged to schedule a library instruction session for their students to help them develop their research and critical thinking skills and learn about the resources the library provides in support of their academic success.

Please review the library instruction menu based on your class modality and find out how librarians can support you and your students.

• When scheduling your information literacy session with a librarian, please give as much advance notice as possible. This will help ensure that a librarian is available at your preferred date and time.
• Consider the timing of the information literacy session. Instructors report that too much time between the session and when students begin work on their assignments is not effective.
• Please provide supporting documentation such as details of your assignment, topic ideas, a copy of your syllabus, and anything else you feel it might be helpful for the librarian to know.
• Discuss desired learning outcomes with your librarian as this will help shape their preparation for the class.
• Research and practice has show that shorter, more frequent sessions are better than one longer session. We may also be able to suggest alternate models such as asynchronous learning.
• If possible, do not schedule an information literacy session on the day of an exam or the day a paper is due. The attention of the students is almost always focused elsewhere.

Before the session:

• Remind students a few times of the date and location of the session.
• Emphasize the importance of attending the session. Essential skills and knowledge will be shared.

During the session:

• We ask that, if at all possible, faculty members attend the session. This reinforces to students importance of the session, and allows the faculty member to provide additional direction to their students, as needed. Our experience has shown that students benefit most when both librarian and faculty member are present.
• Faculty input during the session is welcome and helpful. Students will respect and mirror your enthusiasm and participation.

After the session:

• Librarians are always available for one-on-one assistance. Encourage students who need a little extra support to schedule an appointment with a librarian. A librarian will be able to specifically address the student's specific research needs.