• ILL Requests

• Schedule Library Instruction

• Create Library Assignments

• Evaluation of Electronic Materials

• Place Materials on Reserve

• Plagiarism

The ILL form may be used to request books and journal articles.  Your ILL request is sent directly to our ILL librarian and she will contact you if there are any problems or delays obtaining the item.  Click here to submit an ILL request. 

Schedule Library Instruction

Library instruction (bibliographic instruction) is a useful tool for any class required to conduct research or gather information for presentations, assignments, or exams. In addition to guiding students to the best print and electronic sources for their research, library instruction can also reduce anxiety for less skilled researchers, assist in broadening or narrowing a topic, distinguish between scholarly and popular material, and give students a base to conduct future research. Visiting the library shouldn't be like visiting the dentist! 

Each instruction session is tailored to address the exact topics and areas of research in your class. So that we may customize each session to meet your needs, please use the following guidelines to schedule a session:

• Schedule an instruction session as far in advance as possible. In order to create custom user guides for each class, at least a week's notice is required.

• Either call Connie at x8336 or one of the librarians directly to schedule a session.

• Due to limited space in the library, class size is limited.  If you have classes larger than 25, we may need to split the group into two sessions. If you have Internet access in your classroom, it will be possible for us to come to you.  Allow additional time to set up the proper equipment. 

All classes and all levels can benefit from library instruction.  Instructions range from general overviews of the library to advanced upper level database research.  If you would like more information about this service, please contact any librarian. 

Create Library Assignments

Many of you create library assignments to familiarize your students with the layout of the library and the research process.  Although we encourage the use of these assignments, they sometimes can be ambiguous, outdated, or difficult to complete in the allotted time frame.  Please use the following guidelines when creating library assignments:

• Consult with a librarian before finalizing the assignment to insure the resources are current and available.  As we add to our electronic resources, there is a good chance that what was available in print last year is available electronically this year. Similarly, we may have added new and more comprehensive resources since you created the assignment and we want to ensure our students are familiar with the latest electronic information tools.

• Make sure there is enough information on a topic before assigning it.  Students just learning how to conduct research at the college level become easily discouraged when they can't find enough information in our library (and don't have a car or time to go to USF).

• Assume your students have never used a library for academic research.  Unfortunately, few students arrive at college equipped with the necessary research skills to succeed in college level research. Don't assume they know what a citation, bibliography, or an index is.

• Avoid scavenger hunts and timed assignments; these generally cause confusion, frustration, and an overall negative library experience. Students focus primarily on filling in the blanks rather than learning sound research techniques.

• Contact a librarian when you assign a library research project. We can provide better assistance when we know what to expect and when to expect them.

• If you can, schedule a library instruction session before the assignment is given.  

Evaluation of Electronic Materials

The amount of information on the web seems to multiply faster than stray socks in the dryer, and like the usefulness of stray socks, web sites found via search engines can be questionable at best.  If you're looking to shop, indulge your interests and hobbies, or cook up a mean tuna casserole, by all means grab your surfboard and hit the e-waves.  But if facts, statistics, and research resources are your quest du jour, you'll need a more structured environment to work in.  The following links offer peer reviewed, organized, and current web-based resources to draw from, either as a supplement to your existing research or as a starting point.  

Argus Clearinghouse (A Selective Collection of Topical Guides)

Scout Report Archives (reviewed web sites with an academic focus)

InfoMine (Scholarly Internet Resource Collections)

Even though the above links include a sample of the best the web has to offer, you still need a very critical eye as you explore non-traditional or alternative research resources.  Use these guidelines as a means to evaluate web resources:

• Why is it on the Internet? Is someone trying to sell something, provide a service, state an opinion, describe a pastime, or increase access to worthwhile sources?

• How old is it? When was the last time the web page was updated?

• Who wrote it? Is the author's name at the website? Is there an email link to send the author questions or comments?

• Are there links to other documents supporting the validity of claims, citations, or statistics?

• Where are the files for this site stored? Does the site reside on a government (gov), university or college (edu), or commercial (com) server?

• For detailed information on evaluating electronic information, refer to the following resources:

Evaluating Quality on the Net

A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web

Place Materials on Reserve

Course Reserve Materials

Placing items on reserve provides controlled access to materials for your students. The following materials may be placed on reserve at the Library Circulation Desk:

Eckerd College owned books
Eckerd College owned videos
Personal books
Personal videos
Personal Sample Tests or Homework Solutions
*A copy of an article from a journal
*A copy of a chapter from a book
*A short story, essay or poem

*These items may be subject to copyright laws. For information see the Eckerd College Faculty Manual.

The following items may not be placed on reserves:

Books borrowed from another library
Items rented commercially (e.g. Blockbuster videos)
Reference materials
Periodicals

How to place items on Reserve:

It is important to plan ahead. Items will be processed for reserve Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This means that items submitted on Friday afternoon will not be processed until the following Monday and may not be available until Tuesday or Wednesday. Due to the volume of material placed on reserves, particularly at the beginning and end of the semester, the Library cannot offer same day or rush requests for placing items on reserve. Please submit your list a minimum of 48 hours prior to when your students will need the items. For personal items, longer lead-time would be appreciated.

There are a number of factors that can make the processing of your reserves faster.

1. Eckerd Library owned books may easily be placed on reserve since they already have a bibliographic record and barcode. To submit a request online for Eckerd owned items click here.

2. Personal copies of items must have a bibliographic record created and barcode assigned. You may request an anti-theft device be put into your books by contacting the Circulation Supervisor at 864-8337. To submit a printable request for personal copies of books or videos click here.

3. For photocopied material, each article and each copy of an article must have a separate bibliographic record and barcode making this the most time-intensive of the reserve materials. Here are some ways to speed the process,
a.) Binder Method -In the past, some professors have simplified reserves by putting many articles in one folder or 3-ring binder and then multiple copies in different folders/binders. This requires only one barcode/bibliographic record per binder instead of per article. This is also helpful if you will be adding to your binder throughout the semester. If you choose to do this you must still submit source information for each article.
b.) Proper Title/Author - Articles will not be put on reserve without proper source information and an appropriate title that corresponds to the information in your course syllabus. Items titled "reserve packet," "week 4 readings," or "Bronte readings," will not be placed on reserve.
c.) Number of Copies - Only one copy per 10-15 students is necessary. If your readings are optional, one copy per 20 should be sufficient.
d.) Labeling - If you supply the folder for an article it is not necessary to label it in any special way, however, you may want to write your name and the name of the course on the first page of the article.
e.) Security - In order to keep articles in the library and in proper order, the Library will staple the article to the folder (if size permits) and will place a magnetic antitheft strip in the folder.
To place a photocopy on reserve click here.

Items placed on reserve will be listed by Professor name and Course Name in the Reserve Book at the Circulation Desk. If you have reserve materials for different courses they must have separate reserve lists created for them.

Reserve Options

You have a few options as to how long your students may check out reserve materials. The default loan period is two-hours. Items with a two-hour check out may not leave the library. This is recommended for required reading. The other options are 24-hour or 3-day check out periods. This is often used for videos or for optional research items. The risk is greater with extended check out since the items are leaving the library. Also, there is a three-day delay in overdue notices for reserve materials.

If you are concerned with loss or theft of your personal items there are antitheft options. Contact Paige Lucas-Stannard at 864-8337 for more information.

Plagiarism

Although most students strive to maintain the highest quality work in their research endeavors, there are times when stress, peer pressure, and frustration tempt students to plagiarize their work. Sometimes it can be an honest mistake; other times, work purchased from a "term paper mill" will cross your desk.  

The following web sites offer tips on spotting plagiarism:

• Anti-Plagiarism Strategies for Research Papers (software program for purchase) 

• Downloadable Term Papers: What's a Prof. to
  Do? (article by Tom Rocklin, Iowa State University)

• Educators Fighting a Web of Deceit (article Doreen Iudica Vigue 
  c.1997 The Boston Globe)

• Detecting Plagiarized Papers (15 tips from Teaching Effectiveness Seminar Homepage)

The following web sites offer materials for plagiarizing and cheating:

• School Sucks (scroll down to "Free paper Search")

• Thousands of Papers (allows free page viewing)

• Cyber Essays (free  papers submitted by students)

• Other People's Papers (free papers submitted by students)

• All Free Essays (free papers submitted by students)