Library Services online tutorials gain more praise

Online tutorials created by Austin Community College’s Library Services team continue to earn accolades: The team has received the 2016 Community and Junior College Libraries Section EBSCO Community College Learning Resources award from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

The annual award recognizes significant achievement in community college programs and comes with a $750 cash prize and a plaque. ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 11,500 higher education academic and research librarians and others.

Engaging tutorials cover topics such as choosing a topic, finding articles, and evaluating information.

Engaging tutorials cover topics such as finding articles and evaluating information.

“Austin Community College has created an innovative collection of information literacy tutorials that are used as benchmarks for other community colleges across the country,” said award Co-Chairs Sarah North of the College of Western Idaho and Julia Mielish of Wake Technical Community College. “These tutorials are mapped to student learning outcomes and cover a broad range of topics and can be used for academic general education as well as workforce development programs.”

The brief, interactive Research Success Tutorials use humor and contemporary activities to teach students about topics such as academic honesty, choosing a topic, finding articles, and evaluating information. Modules contain quizzes to assess student learning. The tutorials are available 24/7 through ACC Library website and are compatible with mobile devices.

A year ago ACRL selected ACC’s tutorials for its PRIMO Database, a curated collection of materials that model best practices and showcase effective online teaching. The collection was one of only 19 projects in the nation accepted for the database for 2014. Only 14 community college projects have been accepted for the PRIMO Database since its inception in 2001. Read more about the recognition.

ACC Information Literacy team Co-Chairs Courtney Mlinar, Elgin Campus head librarian, and Irena Klaic, Rio Grande Campus assistant head librarian, will accept the award at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando this summer. The Library Services teaching/information literacy expert team includes Ashley Carr, Highland Campus librarian; David Wilson, Highland Campus librarian; Kristyn Pittman, Northridge Campus librarian; and Betsy Young, Round Rock Campus librarian. Team members Carr and Wilson were primarily responsible for tutorial curriculum and instruction design.

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