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Research and Instructional Services: Guidelines for Scheduling Instruction

Library instruction on research and information literacy skills is available for all Salve Regina University classes. Librarians collaborate with faculty to create customized instruction targeting research-based assignments.

For Faculty

Faculty Guidelines for Requesting Library Instruction


As a Salve faculty member, you can schedule a research-focused workshop for your students, led by one of McKillop's librarians. Workshops are available by appointment either in person or online via Zoom or Webex.

You can email your liaison librarian or schedule instruction via our instruction request form.

McKillop Library's Information Literacy Program supports the educational mission and institutional learning outcomes of Salve Regina University by

  • Training students, faculty, and staff to use information critically throughout their academic, professional, and personal lives,
  • Creating active learning opportunities to find, evaluate, and use information wisely and responsibly,
  • Developing and managing online library resources and user-centered services for Salve students, faculty, and staff.


Librarian's role:

  • To provide an overview and demonstration of the research process, which can include finding, accessing, evaluating, and citing resources,
  • To tailor content to meet the needs of your class with the inclusion of subject-relevant library resources and services,
  • To reinforce learning through active learning exercises,
  • To provide opportunities for students to ask questions and seek advice on navigating general or specific research problems.


Instructor's role:

  • To schedule the library instruction session at least two weeks in advance,
  • To set aside a minimum of forty minutes of class time for library instruction,
  • To attend the library instruction session along with students in order to answer both content- and assignment-related questions that may come up during the session.


Important guidelines: 

Schedule strategically. Research shows that the best time to schedule library instruction sessions is after a research assignment has been introduced and students have had time to select (or at least narrow) their topics. Students are more likely to benefit from library instruction when they see how it will help them succeed in their graded work.

Attend a pre-session meeting. Plan to meet with a library instructor at least one week before library instruction. Share your course syllabus and research assignment before this meeting so that your librarian can tailor a lesson plan to your specific class goals.

Avoid scheduling general library sessions that are not linked to a specific assignment. Students are more motivated if they can clearly see how they will apply what they are learning. Our annual surveys show that students become frustrated when they are repeatedly brought into the library to receive the same basic overview of library resources and services.

Set aside enough time to allow for active learning exercises. This allows students to practice what the library instructor has modeled for the class. We recommend a time commitment of at least forty minutes for library instruction.

Ensure that your students have the tools they need for library instruction. We often encourage students to engage in hands-on practice during our workshops. Please ask your students to make sure their laptops are charged and ready for use. 

Consider scheduling more than one library instruction session. If your students would benefit from library instruction on a variety of topics (e.g. finding books, accessing scholarly articles, evaluating sources, citing sources), consider booking more than one library session throughout the semester to minimize information overload. A librarian will be happy to work with you to develop multiple sessions that scaffold library instruction in a way that exposes your students to new practices in manageable chunks. This is particularly useful for substantial research projects, including capstone projects.

Encourage your students to follow up with their library instructor on their own time. If you have a student that is struggling with their research, you can suggest booking an appointment with the same librarian who provided library instruction for your entire class. Students can use the library’s online booking system to schedule an appointment with the appropriate librarian. 

Choose the Instruction Mode that Best Fits the Needs of Your Assignment!

  • Single Workshop: Customized lesson and activity, designed to meet the requirements of your research assignment. Research on student success shows that one-time visits work best when connected to a specific research assignment, and students are ready to explore a chosen topic.
  • Flipped instruction: Librarian identifies research tools and skills most helpful to fulfill the requirements of your assignment, and creates a quick video for students to watch, along with an online activity, enabling students to practice skills. Your librarian visits the class for a shorter (20-40 minute) session to answer student questions that arose when completing the activity. Completion of video and online activity must be required by the professor--for credit is best.
  • Individualized Support Workshops: When students have narrowed and refined their research topics, a librarian provides an introduction to research tools relevant to the subject matter, and circulates to answer individual questions as they work at their own pace. 
  • Embedded librarian: A designated librarian provides targeted instruction one or more times throughout the class and develops a relationship with students over the semester. Faculty can refer students to the librarian for consultations throughout the research and writing process. 
  • Embedded librarian online: A designated librarian meets with students during an online class meeting, then creates a research guide targeted to a class assignment or topic which can be embedded into the Canvas course shell.  Upon faculty request, the librarian can join or host a discussion board to answer research and related questions.