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The FYS Library Session

Helpful Hints and Other Information

The Van Wylen Librarians are looking forward to working with you and your FYS students – please consult with us regarding any research assignments using the Ask a Librarian form, email or chat askalibrarian@vanwylen.edu, or call the Reference Desk x7904.

We are happy to look over potential assignments and offer suggestions.

Background Information

  • In the college curriculum FYS is flagged for information literacy

  • The Library Session that you will schedule for your FYS class is a 50-minute class instruction conducted during one of your class periods

  • The Library Session should be held during SEPTEMBER

  • During the session, the librarians will welcome students and give them a brief introduction to:

    • The Van Wylen Library

    • The Hope College Librarians

    • Where to get help citing sources

    • Comparing scholarly and popular sources

    • How to use one general research database

Scheduling Your Library Session

Tips

  • Plan to have your session early in the semester – September is the optimum month for your library session, due to the introductory nature of the library session

  • Reserve your sessions by the end of July to ensure your session gets booked on the day you want

  • Have a couple of alternate days in mind – just in case

How to Schedule Your Session

Contact: Patti Carlson, Administrative Assistant

(616) 395-7790 carlsonp@hope.edu

After you have contacted Patti, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from one of the reference librarians which will include the day/time and place of your library session.

Most sessions are done in either the Library Teaching Lab or the Granberg Room (both are located on the second floor of the library). However, in order to accommodate all sessions, some may be conducted in another lab on campus if there are overlapping date requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. I would like my FYS students to do a research project that requires them to use more specific library resources than the one database taught in the standard session. Can I schedule a second session with a librarian?

    2. No. We offer only one librarian-led session per FYS section for a variety of reasons:

    • Each fall semester we work with 40+ FYS
    • During the fall semester we work with 15-18 sections of English 113 classes conducting multiple sessions where we focus on additional skills and concepts, such as the variety of databases available and how to use HopeCAT and MeLCat
    • In addition to English 113, we do library sessions for upper level classes and other introductory classes in nearly all of the disciplines

    You are welcome to bring your students back to the library if you would like to conduct any additional sessions on your own. Librarians are happy to review any additional research you plan to assign.

  2. I want my FYS class to do a simple research project that will involve using a couple of reference books. Shall I just send them to the Libary?

    3. No. Although your assignment may seem ridiculously simple, we recommend you walk through the steps, ahead of time, of any research assignments you intend to give your students. There are almost always small pitfalls that you will not realize until you try it.