K-12 Group or Individual Research Visit Guidelines: Preparing for Your Visit

* PRE-VISIT THE LIBRARY

We encourage you to arrange for a pre-visit orientation. Although not required, this guided visit will be helpful to acquaint you, the instructor, with  the library system and the physical arrangement of materials and services.

* SEND US YOUR RESEARCH TOPICS

We encourage you to send us a copy of your assignment and a list of your students' specific research topics, so that we can review appropriate sources and search strategies prior to the library visit. You can send your list to the individual coordinating your visit.

* SEARCH LOCALLY

Give your students a head start on their projects by first using local research tools. Encourage students to fully explore resources on their topics at your school library and the public library, before visiting Western Libraries.

* SEARCH WESTERN LIBRARIES FROM HOME OR SCHOOL

Students can begin their Western Libraries research prior to visiting by using Western Libraries OneSearch available on the Western Libraries web site. Guide your students in searching the catalog to identify books and other items that they need prior to the visit. You might have them print out pertinent bibliographic records from our catalog to bring to the visit. Click here for tips on searching OneSearch

* PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS FOR BORROWING, PRINTING & COPYING MATERIALS

If you want your students to be able to check-out books and other circulating materials using the Whatcom One Card program for community members, make sure they bring the required documents. Find details at Whatcom One Card. Information about the costs of printing and copying materials will also be helpful.

Your students should have the following prerequisite skills:

• Know the difference between books and periodicals (journals)
• Know the difference between a library catalog and reference tools such as article indexes & databases
• Be able to use an online catalog to identify books by author, title, or subject
• Be familiar with using an electronic index (database) to identify articles
• Have some understanding about how to develop search strategies, including selecting appropriate "keywords" for a search

Use the Library Information Tutorial (LIT) and Library of Congress Classification Outline below
to help your students prepare for their research visit.

Important Policies - Before your visit, please review these policies with your students:

CONTACT INFORMATION

WWU Main Library visits:  Email Elizabeth Stephan: elizabeth.stephan@wwu.edu

A librarian or reference specialist will work with you to design a group research visit to meet your students' needs.