Request Instruction Session

The Georgia Tech Library offers a variety of instructional services to help students in developing information literacy skills.

This menu is a "selection" of the most frequently requested library instruction sessions. Each session is customized to the specific needs of the class, based on a consultation between a librarian and the course instructor.

The times given are approximate, but provide an estimate for planning purposes. These classes are most useful to the students when offered in a hands-on session, but demonstrations can also be arranged.

The sessions can be scheduled at the Library - in our electronic classroom - or at your location.

If you would like other resources or topics addressed that are not on the menu, please contact your Subject Librarian for more information!

Options & Time Requirements

• Intro and Conclusion (always included) = 10 minutes

• Library Tour = 20 minutes

  A walking tour of the library, covering the building layout, holdings and services (photocopying, binding, poster printing, faxing, etc.). Does not offer in-depth instruction. The tour of the library highlights such locations as the Library West and East Commons, the periodicals collection, the Presentation Studio, the Microforms collection, getting research assistance and other help, and more. Includes information on equipment available for check-out,  and in-house multimedia resources (hardware & software).

• How to use the Library Catalog = 20 minutes

  How to find known items (by author or title), and books and other materials on a research topic, and where the item is located in the Library. Also covers how to request books from other libraries.

• General Interest Databases/Basic Search Strategies = 25 minutes each

  How to create a basic search strategy to find articles on general research topics. These sessions also include how to obtain the articles electronically, in print, or via InterLibrary Loan.

  • ProQuest Research Library for magazine & journal articles
  • Academic Search Premier for magazine & journal articles
  • Lexis Nexis for newspaper, magazine & journal articles



• Specialized Databases/Advanced Search Strategies = 30 - 50 minutes each

  These sessions will address search strategies and access for some of the specialized, discipline-specific databases we offer. Most contain citations to scholarly journals, as well as other scholarly resources (e.g. book chapters, patents, technical reports, conference proceedings). These sessions also include how to obtain the articles electronically, in print, or via InterLibrary Loan. Please contact your Subject Librarian for information on discipline- specific databases in your area.

  Database selections include:

  • Compendex for engineering
  • Web of Science for topic searching in humanities, social sciences, science/technology
  • Biosis previews for life sciences
  • PsycINFO for psychology
  • Lexis Nexis for legal or business research
  • MLA bibliography for literature
  • and many more...



• Finding Full Text = 30 minutes

  Part I: Understanding Citations = 10 minutes
  How to identify different parts of article and book citations.
  Part II: Finding Full Text from a Citation = 20 minutes
  How to track down and access full text articles from print and online citations using the Catalog and FindIt! System.

• Identifying Scholarly Articles= 15 minutes

  Students will learn how to distinguish between popular and scholarly periodicals. Information on the scholarly publication cycle will also be introduced.

• Evaluating Websites = 30 minutes

  Presentation and practice on evaluation of websites - particularly as they relate to student research. Students will learn what the vital elements are for evaluating information retrieved from the Internet.

• Searching eBooks = 20 minutes

  How to search online books – can include NetLibrary, Safari, EngNetBase, Knovel or others depending on the class.

• Specialized Research Areas = 55 - 90 minutes

  In-depth instruction in the access and use of specialized subject area resources (electronic & print). The sessions familiarize students with collections and research practices in particular disciplines and are customized to meet curricular needs.

• Academic Integrity/Plagiarism = 50 minutes

  Students learn about paraphrasing, summarizing, and discuss the ethics and issues of academic integrity. This session provides an overview of the economic, legal and social issues surrounding plagiarism and strategies for avoiding it in research.

• EndNote Hands-on Workshop = 50 – 90 minutes (depending on depth of coverage)

  This bibliographic management software helps students to organize their citations and create bibliographies in over a thousand different style formats, including APA and MLA. (This hands-on class needs an electronic classroom. It can be scheduled at the Library or at a classroom in your department.)
  INSTRUCTOR - Lori Critz, (404) 385-4392

• Dreamweaver = 50 – 90 minutes (depending on depth of coverage)

  This hands-on workshop will introduce the basics of using Dreamweaver for Web page design. The session includes using graphics/images, formatting text, making internal and external links, creating tables, implementing simple behaviors such as rollovers, and more. Upon request, can include instruction on loading web pages to the Prism server.  This course is for anyone who wants to begin to design Web sites without having to hand-code their pages.
  INSTRUCTOR - Lori Critz, (404) 385-4392

Questions, Problems? Contact:

Lori Critz
Instruction Coordinator
Phone: 385-4392

To set up a library session, you can use the online form, or you can contact any of the Subject Librarians directly.

We ask that you request a session at least one week in advance; you will receive a confirmation usually within 24 hours of its receipt.