USTU 1250 Library Orientation Instructions
Fall 2014
Overview
Library orientation has been an integral part of the USTU 1250 experience for several years now. Previously, a librarian
would visit each section of USTU 1250 for 15-20 minutes to discuss library services. Following this visit, students would
be given a self-guided tour of the library. These tours have involved iPod videos, scavenger hunts, a video game, a
serialized mystery series on YouTube, and more.
This semester, our last in the Lupton Library, we will be “flipping” the orientation. Rather than completing a scavenger
hunt after a librarian visit, this Fall we will ask students to visit the Library before a librarian visits their class. Envisioned
as an exercise in visual rhetoric and sense-making, USTU 1250 students will visit the Library as small groups, take a series
of photographs, and submit those images to the Library. When a librarian visits the USTU classroom, the librarian will
walk through the photos with the students, explaining various library services and urging questions.
For USTU Instructors:
Within the first few weeks of the Fall semester, please distribute the accompanying worksheet to your students. The
activity begins by dividing the class into five small groups of four to five students. Students will be asked to visit the
library as a group and check out one of our many digital cameras from the Circulation desk. Each group will follow a
series of prompts on the worksheet and use a camera to take photos of the Library. After taking the photographs and
entering the required information on the worksheet, students will stop by the Library reference desk to receive a
certificate of completion and upload their photos.
For librarians
When students come to the Library, they will check out a digital camera and take several photos before visiting the
reference desk. At the desk they will have two things to do. First, they will upload their photos using a dedicated webform on the wing PCs. Once completed, they will receive their certificates, located at the reference desk. Please remind
students to reformat the memory cards on the cameras before turning them back in.
Prior to visiting each USTU 1250 section, the assigned librarian will run a small script located in the Google Drive account
for the USTU Library Tour. This script will collect all of the photos for a given section and place them in a slideshow
located in a corresponding folder in Google Drive. (See Lane for more details). During the 15 minute visit, begin by
logging in to the USTU Library Tour account and pulling up the appropriate photo set. Expect to spend 2-3 minutes
introducing yourself and welcoming the students; 8-10 minutes looking at photos, asking questions (“why did you pick
this spot?”), and providing information; and 2-3 minutes wrapping up.
USTU 1250 Library Photo Tour
Circulation Desk
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Students will show up in groups of 3-5 and ask for a digital camera for the group.
They should use either the Canon PowerShot A1000 or the Kodak PlaySport.
Extras are in the overflow shelving to the left of the technology cabinet.
After they complete the tour and visit the reference desk they will turn the camera back in. Please remind them
to reformat their memory card.
Reference Desk
1. When students show up, they will need to upload their photos via the web-form on the wing PCs (the icon is on
the desktop).
2. Instructions for uploading the files are included in this packet.
3. If the upload form is not working or if students receive an error message they can email their photos to
ustulibrarytour@gmail.com If students must email their files, please have them put the name of their
professor in the Subject line of the email.
4. After students have uploaded their photos they will receive a confirmation message and follow-up confirmation
email.
5. Each group member should receive a Certificate of Completion upon completing the tour and photo upload.
6. Don’t forget to remind the students to reformat their camera’s memory card before returning it to circulation.
(instructions for reformatting included).