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Embedded Librarian: Home

This guide is aimed at instructors who wants to learn more on what an embedded librarian has to offer.

What is an Embedded Librarian

Embedded Librarians are MLS librarians who augment and supplement instruction with your class. This primarily includes helping your students locate, evaluate & effectively use the information resources that will make them successful in your class, commonly known as information literacy skills. The Embedded Librarian works closely with faculty, incorporating research and library support in any course. It is like bringing library directly into your classroom environment.
 

Embedded Librarians provide Information Literacy assistance in the classes embedded. Embedded librarians add information literacy information and activities which builds the ability within the students to recognize a need for information and to find, analyze, and synthesize material from books, article, websites and more. For students, it often means the ability to begin with the requirements for an assignment and write a relevant research question; find materials in any medium that answer the question; analyze their accuracy, currency, and use the materials to create a paper that’s complete with citations and other scholarly requirements.

Embedded Librarian Services

Any class that has a research component can take advantage of adding an Embedded Librarian. The Embedded Librarian works with the course instructor to understand when and where the students will benefit from librarian assistance and provide the appropriate information/direction to the students within their Canvas environment. The Embedded Librarian will get in touch with the instructor before the class begins to discuss course specific requirements to design and materials to fit course needs.
 

Embedded Librarians facilitate student research and the use of library resources during a course or just when needed. Librarians can facilitate in the following:

  • Create specially designed content for online courses, including suggested resources, tutorials, search strategies, videos, and LibGuides;
  • Demonstrate (using screen cast videos) search strategies; 
  • Serve as a contact regarding library or research questions;
  • Provide assistance in proper citations (how to cite in different styles and how to cite different sources);
  • Offer individual attention to students during any stage of their research process.

Why do I need an Embedded Librarian?

Students who receive information literacy instruction enjoy several benefits. A 2017 survey of 42,000 students in more than 1,700 courses at 12 major research universities* showed that:

  • Retention rates were higher for students whose courses included IL instruction.
  • The average first-year GPA for students whose courses included IL instruction was higher than for other students.
  • Students who took IL instruction successfully completed 1.8 more credit hours per year than students who did not.

There are also benefits for instructors when students are more prepared for research assignments and have strong information literacy skills.

*Greater Western Library Alliance (2017). “The Impact of Information Literacy Instruction on Student Success: A Multi-Institutional Investigation and Analysis.” http://www.arl.org/storage/documents/publications/The_Impact_of_Information_Literacy_Instruction_on_Student_Success_October_2017.pdf

How do I request an Embeded Librarian?

You can request an embedded librarian for your course by contacting (940) 397-4177 or by email: ryan.samuelson@msutexas.edu