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Western Libraries

Library Resources for Graduate Students

This guide serves to orient new graduate students to the resources and services provided by Western Libraries Subject Teams.

Support in the Classroom

How can my Subject Team support me as an instructor?

At Western Libraries, we offer a variety of resources to support you as an instructor. Subject Team Librarians provide consultations, workshops, and tailored instructional materials designed to integrate library resources into your curriculum.

We can...

  • Facilitate research and writing workshops and library orientation sessions.
    • Workshop delivery is a collaborative effort, and instructors are required to be present.
    • Submit your requests before the end of Week 3 of each quarter and at least two weeks in advance of your requested date.
  • Identify and access readings for your course.
  • Navigate the complexities of scholarly communications and open access.
  • Explain copyright and fair use.

Explore our guides, online tutorials, and collaborative opportunities to elevate your instructional capabilities. Connect with us to access the support you need in the classroom!

Research & Writing Support for Students

Where can I send my students for research & writing support?

Have you heard of the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio? Undergraduate students can receive support for research, reading, and writing across all subjects and at any stage of the process. Our team, made up of Research & Writing Assistants (RWAs) and Studio Professionals, brings diverse academic backgrounds to help your students succeed. We can help with...

  • Brainstorming
  • Thesis statements
  • Reading and analyzing academic texts
  • Finding and using sources
  • Citations
  • Proofreading tips
  • Organization and flow
  • Cover letters, resumes, and applications
  • Creative writing
  • And more!

Online & Asynchronous Resources

Do instructors have access to online and asynchronous library resources?

Yes! Western Libraries has an array of online and asynchronous resources that you can seamlessly integrate into Canvas. Dive into the Instructor Toolkit to discover how to embed tutorials, guides, and learning modules into Canvas using pages and quizzes. For more details on each resource, check out the links to the right and get ready to enhance your course!

Research & Writing Workshop Series

Getting Started Workshop

Kick off the research process with confidence! This workshop will guide your students through the essentials of beginning a research paper. They'll learn how to break down their assignment, choose a compelling topic, and craft a strong inquiry question that drives their research forward. We'll also explore how to refine their question to develop sub-questions, ensuring they build a solid foundation for their projects. Ideal for helping your students get started on the right foot early in the quarter!

View / Access the Asynchronous Getting Started workshop 

Finding & Using Sources Workshop

Empower your students to enhance their research papers with top-notch sources! In this workshop, students will revisit their inquiry question and dive into databases to find high-quality, scholarly sources. We'll teach them how to critically evaluate these sources and effectively incorporate them into their writing. Along the way, they'll develop essential academic reading skills and learn strategies for building their drafts. This workshop is ideal for the middle of the quarter, once students have a final version of their inquiry question.

View / Access the Asynchronous  Finding & Using Workshop 

Revising & Editing Workshop

Help your students transform their rough drafts into polished, well-organized papers! In this workshop, they'll learn strategies for revising their thesis, improving organization, and adhering to academic style guidelines specific to their discipline. We'll cover essential proofreading and editing techniques, as well as the basics of documenting and citing sources. This workshop is perfect for the final stretch of the quarter, ensuring students finish strong with a clear, concise, and impactful paper.

View / Access the Asynchronous Revising & Editing Workshop 

Research Management with Zotero

Ensure your students are equipped with the tools they need to manage their research efficiently! This workshop introduces Zotero, the research management software supported by the Libraries. Students will learn how to set up their accounts, collect and organize sources, and export formatted citations--all essential skills that complement the Finding & Using Sources workshop. We'll also cover collaboration features in Zotero, making it an invaluable resource to introduce early in the quarter. For additional support, students can explore our Zotero Resources LibGuide at their own pace.

Guides, Tutorials, eLearning & More!

  • My students are struggling with information overload. Is there a resource that can help them find the most relevant and high-quality sources? Say no more! Library Guides (LibGuides) are your go-to, librarian-curated webpages packed with books, videos, databases, and other resources tailored to your discipline. These guides help students quickly find high-quality, relevant information, making their research process a breeze.

My students are struggling with writing concisely and navigating Google Scholar. Do the Libraries offer short, targeted resources for these specific topics? Yes! The Library Tutorials Index is the perfect place to start. It features a comprehensive list of tutorials available in various formats (videos, interactive websites, documents, and more) to support research and writing. Instructors can easily integrate these tutorial links into their Canvas courses. We have a solution for (almost) every struggle! Check out these helpful tutorials:

My students need a crash course on research & writing, but it's too late to request a workshop. What resources do the Libraries have? Check out the Self-Paced Library Tutorials (SPOT)! These structured and interactive eLearning modules guide students through all stages of a research and writing project. Each SPOT module lesson has a unique URL, allowing you to assign the entire module or as individual lessons. It's a great alternative to the research and writing workshop series. Take a sneak peek at some of our offerings below:

Is there an online version of the Research & Writing Workshop Series? Yes, the Research and Writing Workshop Series is available online and asynchronously! It includes a formulated workbook and live chat support with the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio. Upon completion of the workshop, students can save their work or submit it to their instructor. Click on the links below to learn more!