Library Instruction

Library Instruction

Information literacy instruction is available for all classes at RMC. The library is eager to help our students be able to properly find and utilize information in this ever complicated media landscape.

We are happy to conduct instruction sessions of any length, whether only ten minutes or entire class periods. It's typically best if you have an assignment that is used as the instructional context for the session - it helps them value and retain the information better.

Library Instruction "Menu"

Completely customized sessions are always available but please feel free to request a specific session built from the options below!

RMC Library Foundations

A crucial introduction, for undergraduate and graduate students, to the library and it's foundational services. It utilizes the library website as a jumping off point to orient students with what resources we have (print and online, books, databases etc.). ~15m

Database Searching

What is a database and what is it good for? What types of databases do we have at RMC and how are they located? In addition to these foundational questions this session also covers how to search in databases and what sorts of options are available to make the experience more efficient and effective. ~20m

Evaluating Resources

Students are faced with a multitude of options as to where they get their information. This unit helps them understand what the different types of sources (books, popular periodicals, scholarly periodicals, and the internet) are all about and how their differences help us know when we should use or not use any particular one. Also included in this session is a discussion of what peer-review is and why it is important. ~25m

Developing a Research Topic

While sometimes done in conjunction with the teaching faculty member, developing a research topic is a crucial part of the research process that many students approach without any strategy. This session helps students identify the different phases of research topic development with a special emphasis on how they can utilize the processes of developing a research topic to help them subsequently search for research more effectively. ~25m

Avoiding Plagiarism

Helping students better understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid unintentional plagiarism. Key topics are citing and quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing. ~25m

Citing: How to think like someone who actually cites things

Tools that generate citations are wonderful time-savers but for various reasons they can be prone to errors. If one wants to be sure they've cited something correctly they need to understand certain thought processes and be familiar with citation style rules. Session will utilize either MLA or APA as our style. ~30m

Refworks

Refworks is a powerful research management tool that RMC subscribes to and that students will still be able to use upon graduation. ~15m

Contact Library
Rocky Mountain College
1511 Poly Drive Billings, MT 59102
Follow RMC