Providing access to regular and timely instruction is a priority of the Athens State University Library and helps the Library support the University’s mission of preparing students for professional careers, graduate school, lifelong learning, and enrichment. Users have access to the Library facility and its services seven days a week for a total of 76 hours per week. Web access to the Library’s website includes authenticated access to all subscription databases. The Library maintains one computer to serve students with vision impairment. Students and faculty are able to communicate with Library staff via the Library’s website or through links to the Library embedded in Blackboard, available in all courses. The Library tab available in each Blackboard course provides links to key library resources and instruction on how to use library resources including a library tutorial. Library policies have also been developed outlining procedures for the access to the Archives collection.

Library instruction is an important priority for the University. The Library staff provides introductory, discipline-specific instruction about library holdings and services to University students, and provides on-line instruction about library services. Several methods are employed to meet the needs of all faculty, staff, and students regardless of where they are located. One method used for instructing students on library use is accomplished through the use of librarians electronically embedded within courses through Blackboard. This service enhances student instruction in Library use and in course-based writing assignments. An electronically embedded librarian is a reference librarian who works within the online component of a class as a teaching assistant at the invitation of the instructor. The embedded librarian, after being added to the course’s Blackboard container, communicates to students and faculty a description of the Library and embedded librarian services available. The embedded librarian provides instruction related to selection of relevant resource materials and development of valid research strategies. The embedded service is specifically appropriate for classes with a research component or research assignment. Other related services provided by the embedded librarian include assistance in finding, evaluating and citing information; posting instructional materials to the course Blackboard site; setting up and monitoring a library discussion forum; and working with the instructor to further enhance the students’ learning experience. Instruction is tailored to meet the specific needs of individual classes. A full range of electronic resources is available through the use of Blackboard including Tegrity video, Wimba, blogs and wikis. In the most recent academic year, 161 classes were supported through the embedded librarian service.

The evaluation of the embedded librarian program is conducted through course evaluations and an information literacy test, given pre-course and post-course. The test results indicate the effectiveness of the embedded librarian instruction and yields assessment data used to determine student learning gains about information literacy. The test is aligned with the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL’s) informational literacy standards.

Library instruction for students is also conducted through face-to-face visits to land-based classes at multiple campuses. At the invitation of instructors, a professional librarian instructs students about available Library services and research methods, including locating and finding information and evaluating the quality of research resources. All business majors take either GBA 300 or MG 320, each of which has library instruction embedded within the course. GBA 300 is taught by an ASU librarian, and all sections of MG 320 utilize the embedded librarian program. All students in the College of Education receive library instruction through the initial Foundations of Education course, where the embedded librarian program is established in each course section. The University Curriculum Committee recently approved a one-hour course requirement to provide library instruction for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, beginning in the fall semester of 2010. Assessment of this type of instruction is through course evaluations.

The Library provides a wide range of services to help patrons make full use of the facility. Among these services is a one-hour orientation for new faculty members about the Library’s holdings and operation. Through the Library tab in Blackboard, faculty members have access to a library tutorial that provides instruction on library use and outlines available services and resources. In recent years the Curriculum Laboratory for the College of Education was merged with the Library, and this enhances the Library’s interface with pre-service teachers, providing curriculum resources and children’s books to these students. A wide range of children’s literature has also been made available for students attending class at the Wallace Hanceville Center in order to enhance their book selection for EL 320, Children’s Literature. In addition to traditional interlibrary loan services for faculty and students, the University has a reciprocal borrowing agreement with ten other institutions of higher learning in north Alabama. This agreement permits faculty and staff to check out books from a large array of regional collections. In recent semesters the Library has undertaken to facilitate access to holdings for on-line students by mailing them books if they reside more than 30 miles from campus or delivering requested books to University Centers if the students are near those facilities.

The Library also serves audiences outside the University community. It delivers complimentary services and instruction to high school seniors and issues free library cards to teachers employed by local public schools. Tours of the Library are available upon request. These orientations can focus on materials and search strategies targeted for a specific need or area of knowledge. During fall and spring semesters, the Library sponsors two book discussion groups. The Library connects teacher candidates and other Alabama residents to the state’s virtual library network as part of its effort to promote lifelong learning and future use of the network resources. Bi-monthly meetings of the Friends of the A Athens State University Library are conducted to plan promotional and fund raising events. The Library’s website is extensively developed providing learning resources and informational literacy instruction to both students and the community at large.

Other Learning Resources

In addition to the Library, the institution operates three, more specialized, learning resource centers. These are the Writing Center, the Accounting Lab, and the Math Laboratory. Each lab is operated primarily for the purpose of providing instruction and, if needed, individualized instruction to students needing assistance to enhance applied skills in the areas of composition, accounting applications, and mathematics.

The Writing Center, located in the Library, provides a supportive learning environment aimed at assisting students to meet writing goals and objectives. The Lab is staffed by knowledgeable English majors who are selected by the Faculty Director, a professor in the English department. The staff provides personal tutorial assistance to students who voluntarily seek the services. Assistance to students may be rendered in person (one-on-one), via the Internet, or through a telephone conversation. The Center operates 30 hours per week and generally during regular business hours.

The Accounting Lab, another supportive learning environment, provides assistance to students in order to meet accounting course goals and objectives. The lab aims to increase student confidence and competence in accounting skills. The lab is staffed by students identified as knowledgeable accounting majors. The student staff provides personal tutorial assistance to students who voluntarily seek the services. Students may receive assistance on site and through email, fax or telephone. The lab is located in Chasteen Hall in a computer laboratory near the office of the Accounting Lab’s sponsor, who is also available to assist student staff when needed. In addition, all other accounting professors’ offices are located in the same area near the lab to provide faculty assistance when needed by students.

The Math Lab provides a supportive learning environment aimed at assisting students completing assignments for their mathematics classes, tutoring students in general mathematics for 300 level courses or in other mathematical areas, and increasing students’ confidence in their mathematical skills. The lab is staffed by knowledgeable mathematics majors selected by the Faculty Director. These tutors provide personal tutorial assistance to Athens State University students who voluntarily seek the services, in one-on-one consultation, during hours of operation. Tutors can be reached by telephone to clarify simple concepts or to make an appointment for in-person assistance. Hours of operation vary depending on the schedules of the tutors. In recent semesters the Lab has operated Monday through Thursday for a combined 37 hours per week. The Lab is temporarily located in Founders Hall until completion of extensive renovation to Waters Hall.