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Library Policies

Research & Learning's Role

Research & Learning librarians offer support to all members of the FSU community, with a focus on information discovery. We offer:

  • Research Support via:
    • e-mail
    • phone
    • staffed walk-up help desk on the Library's Upper Mezzanine level
    • chat services (chat widget tab to start a chat is on the lower right of every library page)
    • chat service co-op coverage during the hours that we are not open
    • scheduled in-person appointments
    • scheduled Zoom appointments
    • online research help guides
  • Instruction services modeled upon the principles of the ACRL's Information Literacy Framework, via:
    • Sessions (generally an hour) in UM-14, the Library's Instruction Classroom (preferred)
    • Sessions in your classroom
    • Zoom instruction sessions
    • In-person, Hybrid, and Zoom Workshop series
    • Serving as an 'Embedded Librarian', available to answer any student research questions via a discussion board in Canvas course sites
    • Creation of research help guides; course-specific guides also available upon request

To request an instructional session or our other services, please e-mail or call Instruction Coordinator Sandra Rothenberg.

Research Support Policies

During very busy times, the following policy will be in effect at the Walk-Up Research Help Desk:

  • An in-progress research help session will take priority over subsequent e-mails, calls, chats, or walk-up patrons
  • A pre-scheduled research help appointment will take priority over subsequent e-mails, calls, chats, or walk-up patrons

That said, during such busy times, the Walk-Up Help Desk monitor will summon additional research help when available.

Library Instruction Policies

During times of the semester when many instructional sessions are occurring, please note that the Research & Learning Department cannot guarantee the ability to accommodate last-minute requests - please plan accordingly. Instruction Coordinator Sandra Rothenberg is always happy to schedule in an instruction session for your class as soon as you have finalized your syllabus, even prior to the semester's start.

Under normal circumstances, faculty requesting an instruction session should be in attendance that day; if an emergency arises where you will not be able to be present, please contact both Ms Rothenberg and the scheduled Librarian as soon as possible.