Library Research Sessions
Many students arrive at PCC without the research skills they need to be successful in higher-education classes. Our research sessions are available to help your students learn how to effectively conduct research.
Research sessions are most successful while your students are working on a research assignment. If your students will be working on an assignment, please submit a copy of the assignment at the time of your request. Students should be introduced to their assignment before the session. To make a request, contact Kathryn McGuire at kmcguire2@pasadena.edu or (626) 585-7962. You may also fill out the Request a Library Research Session form below.
“Made it fun and easy to learn how to use databases.”
“My students really valued the experience. Several mentioned it in their informal course evaluation at the end of the semester!”
85% of students agree “I will be more successful as a result of this library workshop.”
“The librarian was aware of my assignment, provided the class with the info they needed, and even had time to give personalized instruction to instruction to individual students.”
“I will be able to use what I learned today for all aspects of my education.”
“Nicely focused on the primary issues students have - finding and interpreting peer-reviewed literature.”
“The visit motivated my students to get busy and be invested.”
What We Do
Research sessions help students become information literate and provide customized, course-specific instruction. Here are a few of the concepts we routinely cover:
- Getting help from a librarian
- Choosing and refining a topic
- Identifying useful keywords / search terms
- Finding books and database articles
- Evaluating the credibility of sources
- Citing sources properly
Sessions typically last 90 minutes and are most productive when students are actively working on a research project. However, we also provide library tours and/or general overviews of library resources and services when appropriate.