Research and Instruction Services

In order to:

• Select, evaluate, and employ the appropriate resources for each stage of research
• Identify the benefits and limitations of sources, including issues related to scope, accessibility, and availability
• Recognize how sources can be organized

In order to:

• Construct and refine the research question
• Identify and make use of scholarship relevant to the research topic
• Acknowledge and apply general and discipline-specific research methodologies
• Analyze how a search result list is produced and presented in relation to the search query
• Formulate and refine a clear thesis supported by logic and evidence
• Recognize the importance of citation in navigating the scholarly conversation

In order to:

• Assess the quality and relevance of research materials
• Select and ethically employ the most appropriate materials for a given need
• Analyze the factors, perspectives, and circumstances that influence the creation or content
• Investigate the credentials and biases of information creators, authors, and publishers
• Intentionally engage with multiple perspectives

In order to:

• Disseminate discipline-specific information to specialized and general audiences
• Contextualize evidence within existing scholarly conversations
• Contribute clear, precise, and well-organized expositions to the body of scholarship

In order to:

• Responsibly cite information sources in any format
• Distinguish and acknowledge the original ideas of others
• Recognize and understand the legal and ethical issues related to research, including those of intellectual property, copyright, and privacy
• Protect one’s own rights and the rights of others, ensure confidentiality, safeguard personal information, and comply with contracts and laws

We have developed a multi-faceted, collaborative program by incorporating traditional, innovative and interactive instruction services to assist students in developing skills to find, evaluate, analyze, and ethically use research resources.

First-year library instruction at the seminar level provides an essential foundation for students’ understanding of how academic literature is organized and used. This solid grounding will serve students throughout their entire Bowdoin careers and form the basis for developing more advanced library research skills in their major fields of study.

Librarians work with faculty to develop sessions that enrich the learning experience. Students will work with a librarian to critically engage with information throughout the research process.

Grounded in the Bowdoin College Library Research and Instruction Services learning outcomes, the education program of Special Collections & Archives emphasizes active learning for information, archival, and visual literacy. We work with faculty across all disciplines to meet a wide variety of learning goals and support teaching with our unique materials. Our emphasis on active learning places the student at the center of our instruction design, providing the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning to build transferable skills that directly promote students’ academic growth and development.

Learn more about SC&A instruction.

Designed for general subject areas or customized for specific classes, the guides present 24/7 access to the most relevant research resources, research strategies, and information about the library’s services and resources.

We encourage students and faculty to meet with librarians individually to get targeted assistance with projects large or small, assignments, locating materials, questions, or suggestions for re-invigorating the research process, or just extra support.

Throughout the year the Library offers various workshops and events designed to provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to explore skills, technologies, ideas, and collections.

Contact your research librarian to schedule a class, appointment, or simply to find out more about our instruction program.