Library Science Instruction

Guidelines for Community and School Group Visits

Elmer E. Rasmuson Library Visits

What do you want your group to learn from your visit to the library? The Rasmuson Library frequently receives inquiries from off-campus groups interested in arranging a tour or orientation to the library, and we welcome community use of Rasmuson resources and Reference services. General informational guided tours, conducted by Rasmuson Student Tour Guides, may be arranged a week in advance and are dependent upon availability of student guides. Teachers or group leaders may conduct their own tours but please let us know in advance of your planned visit. Informational handouts and guided tour maps are available and are very helpful for conducting your own library orientation.

Alaska and Polar Regions Collections Department Visitor Information

If your group is specifically interested in visiting and learning about the Alaska and Polar Regions collections, please contact them directly at: fyapr@uaf.edu or call the Research Room public service staff at 907-474-6400 or any APR faculty or staff member who has expertise in your area of interest.

Currency

As most academic libraries, UAF Libraries are experiencing rapid change which in turn may affect your assignments. Print resources can change physical location or may be updated or even discarded. Electronic resources may switch vendors and take on a different interface, or they may expand or delete their holdings without any notification. Check your assignments regularly so that you're not asking your students to use something incorrectly or direct them to something that's no longer available.

Questions to Consider for School Visits

Have you discussed your project and students' research needs with your school librarian?

Have you and/or your school librarian reviewed students' research strategies and types of resources needed for the project?

Let Us know When You Plan to Visit

To make the best use of your student's time at Rasmuson Library we recommend that you contact the Library in advance of a planned visit. Planning ahead is even more important during the library renovation project. While library hours are the same and all services are available, locations for materials and staff may change. Call, email, or stop in for an update and preview of the new library. Call or email: Diane Ruess, 907-474-6349, ffder@uaf.edu.

Before You Visit

• Get a head start on your project by first checking available information resources at your school and public library.
• Student research projects might benefit from a review of SLED (link here) resources.
• Visit the Rasmuson Web page to search the library catalog and to review the list of databases and reference resources that may be useful for student projects.
• Review the research guides and handouts available from the library home page (link here to library handout page)
  

Other Helpful Information

Anyone is welcome to use the library. You can obtain assistance at the Reference Desk and may certainly browse and read, take notes, use the library catalog, databases and other online resources, make photocopies, etc. If you wish to check items out of the library you will need a valid library card from the Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library , and be a patron in good standing (no overdues, unpaid fines, etc)

Photocopying and Printing

Rasmuson Library has a networked system of laser printers and photocopiers. If you have a valid Polar Express card you may add money to your card specifically for printing and photocopying. A VTS machine (Value Transfer Station) will accept your cash and add it to your card electronically. The VTS is located next to the library Circulation Desk. Please ask for assistance if needed!

If you do not have a Polar Express card you may also purchase a UAF Copy Card from the VTS and use it for photocopying and printing. The Copy Card itself will cost you $1.00 and you can add as much or as little cash onto the card as you need. Copy card accounts are not refundable so you might want to be conservative on the amount you add, knowing that you can always add more if needed.

Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, 310 Tanana Drive, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska USA 99775-6800, (907) 474-7481