The following modes of instruction are offered by the University Library:

Individual Consultation: (synchronous or asynchronous) Librarians are available in person, via phone or email for instruction through the information desk in brief reference consultations. Extended, more focused consultations for instruction can be made individually with either the Instruction Coordinator or library subject liaisons. 

Workshops: Offered to faculty, staff and students these workshops are designed with a focus on the use or command of a specific tool or service offered by the Library. The Library also offers workshops in conjunction with other campus entities such as Information Technology and the Writing Room.

Course-Related Instruction: Librarians collaborate with faculty to provide an assignment-driven, hands-on class instruction session.

Course-Integrated Instruction: Librarians and faculty plan library instruction in order to complete specific course outcomes. Library instruction sessions are designed to include transferable research strategies including standards endorsed by ACRL.[1]

Subject and Course Pathfinders: Librarians create and revise tools which suggest books, databases and website on particular topics. Patrons can access these tools electronically or pickup printed versions in order to start their research.

Online Tutorials: The University Library provides online tutorials to introduce or reinforce selected aspects of the research process or library services.

[1]As defined by Francesca Allegri on page 29 of Working with Faculty to Design Undergraduate Information Literacy Programs, Course-Integrated Instruction involves three of the following components: “1) faculty outside the library are involved in the design, execution and evaluation of the program, 2) the instruction is curriculum-based, in other words, directly related to the students’ course work, 3) students are required to participate, and 4) the student’s work is graded or credit is given for participation.”

According to the American Library Association, “Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." In order to give direction to our efforts, we adopt the Association of College and Research Libraries' Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. The program conforms to the accreditation standards of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. We also correlate these standards with the Model Information Literacy Guidelines created by the Colorado Department of Education.

In accordance with the aforementioned agencies we strive to:

1. Conduct a variety of outreach activities in order to assist campus community in embracing Information Literacy as a collaborative and collective endeavor.
2. Collaborate with constituencies in order to facilitate learning and information-seeking abilities appropriate in for individual levels of scholarship.
3. Integrate principles of critical reflection and student-centered pedagogy in order to cultivate unique, individual and effective skills for all teaching librarians.
4. Commit to evaluating our instructional efforts in order to make improvements to the Library’s Instruction Program.