Library Instruction FAQs

Library orientations and instruction can be customized to support your course, assignment, and students' research needs. Librarians can help students develop research strategies, find and evaluate information, use library research tools and resources, and become familiar with library services. Instruction can support a specific research assignment or provide a general overview of library resources and services. It can be provided in person, live online, or asynchronously.

Library orientations and instruction are available for ARC classes, including in-person, hybrid, and online classes. In-person library instruction is available at both the main campus and Natomas Center.

Through the Instruction Request Form, you can request live instruction via Zoom or asynchronous instruction, such as a Research Guide. These options can be customized to support your course or research assignment.

Faculty can also use the ARC Library Research Tutorials in Canvas for ready-made, self-paced library research instruction. See Library Services for Faculty and Staff for information about assigning the tutorials.

Yes. Please plan to attend live library instruction with your class. We welcome your active participation during the session. Your presence helps connect library instruction to the work students are doing in your course and allows you to clarify assignment expectations and answer course-specific questions. Instructor participation also helps make the session a more meaningful and engaging experience for students.

If you will be absent, please arrange for a substitute instructor to be present with your class.

In-person library instruction is provided in your classroom at the ARC main campus or Natomas Center. If students will need access to computers during the session and your classroom does not have them, you may need to reserve a computer lab for the class.

Please contact the Library in advance if you are planning a class visit. Library computers and seating are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis, so we cannot guarantee space or computers for a class. The Library does not currently have a classroom or computer lab available to reserve for classes.

If your class visit will include library instruction or research assistance, please use the Instruction Request Form so that a librarian can work with you to plan the session. During an unscheduled class visit, we cannot guarantee that a librarian will be available to provide assistance to the class.