18.4 Reference and Library Instruction

1. University Libraries staff are actively engaged in a comprehensive instructional program (www.lib.uiowa.edu/instruction), which promotes the development of critical thinking and research skills through a variety of services. Librarians collaborate with faculty members to provide in-class instruction tailored to complement course content. In addition, librarians have developed a credit-bearing course, Library Research in Context, which links research skills to courses in the major. Special information skills workshops are developed for groups such as new international students and students enrolled in a variety of summer preparatory programs. Interdisciplinary research seminars are offered for graduate students and faculty. Library staff provide instructional handouts, web-based tutorials, and course-related resource pages.
2. Reference and information services are available at several locations in the Main Library, at all of the branch libraries, and at Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. In addition to walk-in services, faculty, staff, and students can receive reference and information assistance via telephone, email, and Internet chat services (www.lib.uiowa.edu/ref).
3. Librarians provide a free research consultation service to University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students. This service is customized for the individual user and provides access and direction to research materials that pertain to the user's specific project or thesis.