The Middleton Library and research department is now offering “library orientation sessions,” in which librarians and other library employees teach library research skills.
“We’ve done versions of this over the years,” said Barbara Wittkopf, a reference librarian and the orientation leader. “Our library has an outreach program; we’re trying to get more people involved and informed.”
Tal Fang, a geology freshman from China, said he came to the
orientation session Tuesday to familiarize himself with the research materials at the library.
During her orientation session, Wittkopf spoke on searching through the library’s online catalog and discussed many online research tools the library offers such as LexisNexis and Academic Search Premier, which searches periodicals and other reference guides on the Internet.
Sara Staats, social work graduate student, said she heard about the orientation program through her department.
“We got an e-mail and they suggested we schedule an appointment or come to an orientation session,” Staats said. “I’m going to be doing research for my thesis eventually and hopefully this will help.”
Staats, who graduated in 1991 from LSU, also said the orientation would help bring her up to speed with the new technology-oriented curriculum.
“Technology has changed a lot since I graduated,” she said. “I have to get assignments online and do a lot on the computer now.”
Another program Wittkopf featured in her orientation session was the live assistance program, which involves real-time chat on the library’s Web site, www.lib.lsu.edu.
“We have people on call during certain hours, using the Internet to help as well as on the telephone and in person,” Wittkopf said.
Mooney said the orientation session was beneficial to his future research and teaching.
“It was good that we could research newspapers and those kinds of things,” Mooney said. “It was geared more toward grad students and faculty, though.”
Wittkopf encouraged students to come and attend an orientation session, or talk to a librarian if they have any questions about
researching.
“It’s about confidence,” Wittkopf said. “People don’t realize what our resources are and what they can use at the library.”
Additional sessions are offered Sept. 3 at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.,Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m. The sessions are offered on the second floor of the library in room 230-B.