Research suggests that many first-year students--especially marginalized students--experience library anxiety that prevents them from seeking help in the library. However, the more they experience library resources, the lower their anxiety becomes. By bringing your students to the library, you will provide them with the following anxiety-reducing experiences:

• Meeting librarians and getting their expert help in navigating the increasingly complex information landscape
• Connecting to the unique library resources that will help them throughout college
• Exploring study spaces and opportunities in the library

This activity will complement the database instruction that first-year students receive in their writing class by focusing on the physical space and human helpers that the library offers.

The UNIV 101 homework options include two library-related tasks. These assignments provide specific opportunities for students to engage with a library resource, but they do not showcase the diversity of library resources nor do they encourage students to explore the library collaboratively. The library activities (see Options) are collaborative and expansive.

Library personnel have prepared several library session options that can be completed during class:

• Seeking Truth through Library Resources: students will explore the library resources and services through an activity that will take them to various locations in the library. This can be customized to include areas you would like to have students explore. 
• Discovering Truth by Asking Good Questions (Special Collections): students will engage with primary source materials to learn how to observe and ask good questions about what they are seeing. These skills can be applied to any text they encounter. This tour has limited availability. 
• Learning Truth through Family Connections (Family History): students will work with Family History specialists to explore how connections to their family can give them insight into the development of their understanding of truth. 
• Exploring the Library (self-guided tour): students will have a series of challenges to complete in the library. These activities will help students learn the fundamentals of the library. This activity is intended for small groups. The students will access the activity on their electronic device and report their success in completing the challenges.

Each experience is designed to take 50 minutes. The session can be modified based on your needs.

To schedule a library session please send an email to library_instruction@byu.edu