Library as Thesis Laboratory: A Workshop-Based Approach to How Librarians Can Support Writing and Research
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2019-01-06
Abstract
ABSTRACT Historically, librarians have supported instruction and
curricular development primarily through information literacy sessions
and individual consultation. But having identified a gap in the curriculum
and academic experience between faculty expectations and student
writing ability in the Divinity School at Vanderbilt, as well as a dearth of
support for students through the thesis writing process, the library has
set out to offer our skills and expertise to guide students through the
research and writing of their final theses. This contribution provides an
assessment of the inaugural class that took place in the spring semester
of 2018, and covers the formation of the course, from conversations
with students and planning with administrators to outlining the syllabus.
We discuss the actual practice of the program, its successes and
pitfalls, and our assessments of the results of this initial effort, as well as
our plans for moving forward with the course. By reviewing and evaluating
the course, our goal is to stoke conversation about how divinity
libraries can identify gaps where their expertise and experience can
be leveraged, and design novel ways for librarians to complement and
augment existing curricular needs around writing and research.
