san antonio college
One of the Alamo Community Colleges

Library

Philosophy, Mission, & Goals

      The Library Instruction program's philosophy, mission, and goals statement, as adopted in March 1986, revised in
      August 1996, and revised in November 2001, establishes that:

San Antonio College librarians are faculty who actively participate in the teaching function of the college. Accessing information is a lifelong process requiring individuals to identify, locate, evaluate, and use resources pertinent to their needs. Our mission is to teach students the skills needed to successfully complete their library-related assignments. Librarians prepare students to apply critical thinking skills and become independent library researchers.

      Library instruction will accomplish the following goals:

      1)   Provide quality library instruction in formats designed to meet both class and individual needs.
      2)   Develop guides to assist students in the use of library materials.
      3)   Consult with faculty in designing and incorporating library-related assignments in their curriculum.

Program Description

      1)   Library instruction is available through course-related classes, one-on-one instruction, general research classes,
      and eLibrary instruction.

      Course-related instruction classes are tailored to specific classroom assignments to:

        accomplish learning objectives determined by the librarian in consultation with the classroom instructor;
        develop a questioning approach to identify information needs;
        demonstrate a library research process;
        teach how to evaluate resources; and
        reduce student anxiety by providing an atmosphere which promotes learning.

      These classes will provide students with an introduction to the research process and the critical evaluation of information.
      During the 2006 - 2007 academic year, the librarians provided instruction to 635 classes with 12,000 students attending.
      For a complete history of library instruction statistics, consult the library instruction statistics summary .


      The library has two instruction classrooms. Each is equipped with an overhead projector, a Nomad Multimedia
      Projection System, two screens, instructor's computer, 23 individual computers, and 8 wireless laptop computers.
      Classroom demonstrations are followed by student hands-on participation using the catalog, online databases
      and indexes, and the Web.

      One-on-one instruction at the reference desk provides librarians with the opportunity to teach the research process
      and the critical thinking skills to fulfill students' information needs. Librarians teach students how to select and use
      appropriate resources such as reference books, library catalog, database, indexes, and the Web.

      Each semester research classes provide subject specific Web database instruction. Taught by librarians, these classes
      include "hands-on" practice with the library's various databases. The classes are open to students, faculty, staff, and the
      general public.

      During the Fall 2006 semester, the library will continue beta testing real-time web based eLibrary instruction using
      Elluminate vClass.

      2)   Librarians develop library instruction guides to assist students in the use of library materials. In library instruction
      classes, librarians provide handouts tailored to specific course assignments.


      Web-based guides include research information on career, controversial issues, literary criticism, and general research.

      These guides show students the library research process involved in finding resources.

      3)   Instructors are encouraged to meet with librarians to design library-related assignments for their courses.

Comments or suggestions about this web page may be emailed to the: SAC Library Instruction Committee