Library Toolkit Tutorials
Catalog Tutorials
Learn how to discover resources in the library catalog.
The library catalog is your primary gateway to the university's vast physical and digital collections. While general search engines are useful for broad inquiries, the catalog is a precision tool designed to connect you with curated books, e-books, journals, and media specifically selected to support your academic success.
These short tutorials provide "just-in-time" learning experiences, showing you exactly how to navigate our systems to find what you need, when you need it. Whether you are tracking down a specific call number in the stacks or accessing a digital resource from home, these step-by-step guides will help you master the search process with confidence.
Library Literacies 101
Build foundational skills for academic, professional, and personal life in the 21st century.
Library Literacies 101 is an introductory, self-paced course designed to cultivate essential skills for navigating the contemporary information landscape. Throughout the course, you’ll engage with five critical domains: Information, Media, Digital, Visual, and AI Literacy. This structured curriculum integrates instructional videos, interactive simulations, and evaluative assessments to empower you to locate, analyze, and utilize information with academic integrity and critical discernment. The course prepares you for the complexities of scholarly research and informed citizenship all while providing you with valuable life skills you can apply in everyday situations. Upon successful completion of all modules and the final post-test, you’ll receive a certificate of completion to recognize your achievement.
Time to Complete: 2-4 Hours
Library DIY
Expand your research skills and understanding.
Library DIY is a comprehensive, on-demand repository of research-based tutorials and instructional media designed to support students at every stage of the inquiry process. Containing between 8–12 hours of specialized content, this resource is not intended as a linear course but rather as a flexible, "just-in-time" toolkit for self-directed learning. You can explore the collection as needed, with no enrollment required. The content is organized into eight strategic categories to provide targeted assistance:
Getting Started with Research: From understanding the information age to developing a research plan and framing problems.
Sources of Information: Distinguishing between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources and mastering scholarly reading.
Searching for Information: Exploring databases, keyword selection, and advanced search techniques.
Search for Specific Sources: Specialized guidance for finding books, articles, data, images, theses, and more.
Evaluate & Analyze Information: Critical deep dives into authority, bias, misinformation, and logical reasoning.
Organizing & Presenting Information: Support for synthesis, annotated bibliographies, academic writing, and oral communication.
Information Ethics: Essential coverage of plagiarism, copyright, and the ethical use of Generative AI.
Citations: Comprehensive tutorials and manuals for APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, AMA, and NLM styles.
Whether you are beginning your first college paper or refining a complex thesis, Library DIY provides the specific evidence-based guidance necessary to succeed.
Library Scavenger Hunts
Apply what you've learned and have fun along the way
These library scavenger hunts offer you an interactive, experiential way to apply the research skills you’ve learned through library use or in our catalog tutorials. They provide fun, hands-on practice in a low-stakes setting.
To solve the mysteries, you’ll dive into the library catalog, explore specialized research guides, and navigate both online databases and the physical collection to uncover clues. Once you’ve identified the mystery person or book, you’ll practice using catalog tools to answer follow-up questions designed to hone your search skills.
Time to Complete: 15-30 minutes each.