Starting as an adjunct faculty member at Davenport University 21 years ago, Linda Goulet has learned how to use the library to help her students and herself.

“Never underestimate the power of the librarians,” said Goulet, who will begin her role as Department Chair of Marketing on Nov. 20.

DU’s library houses more than 80 databases, roughly 96 library guides, APA citation guidance and other tools to help students achieve success.

“Having credible resources is incredibly important today, more than any other time in the history of academics,” Goulet said. “In the academic setting, sources that aren’t credible are being used. These include blogs, opinions, and wikis, but using the library resource allows us as faculty to direct students to journals or business papers that we commonly accept as credible sources or references.”

Goulet said Davenport’s librarians know the databases like back of their hand and some are dedicated to particular disciplines.

“Sometimes we try to do everything ourselves and may spend a half hour searching through databases without luck,” Goulet said. “In order to save more time, students or faculty members just need to ask a librarian for help.”

Introducing the library to students

To help her students conduct better research in her classes, Goulet has brought in DU’s librarians to give brief tutorials and review the databases.

“I have introduced some of the databases to students and no matter where they are in their college program, they always say ‘Oh, I wish I had learned this earlier,’” Goulet said.

Goulet also has had librarians join live collaborative sessions or participate in discussion threads in online classes. Directing students to the library tab on Blackboard can help students tremendously, she said.

Leading courses

Emily Hayes, DU’s Global Campus Librarian, helps faculty members create their own library guides.

“Library guides are good starting points for students who need to do research, but are not sure what to use or where to go,” Hayes said. “They are divided up by course and subject and contain a variety of library resources that the librarians have put together for students and faculty to use.”

In addition, library guides can provide links to articles, journals and databases that might help students who are taking certain courses.

“I have brought Emily my course learning outcomes and asked for direction regarding databases based on those learning outcomes. Emily helps find databases for me to look through,” Goulet said. “From there, I will do some research and come up with links for articles, journal articles, or even different databases that they might use for different things and create a list.”

Additional information about library guides is available online. Faculty also may contact a librarian for help.