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Information literacy toolkit Skip to content Help your students to develop essential skills in information literacy

FAQs

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Why do my students need to use Library materials?

This will vary from module to module. Some will incorporate Library resources into the module materials, others may suggest that students use the Library in a more open-ended way. There is a move in the University to encourage faculties to be much clearer about what is expected of students in this regard. The University's policy is that students need to develop information skills. This is included in the Learning and Teaching Strategy, which talks about students becoming "effective and independent learners, including the ability to master the modern means of distance learning (e.g., information retrieval and analysis, online group-work, use of standard IT tools)."

What are students told about the Library?

OU students receive information about Library Services through a number of different channels including introductory emails when they start their module, a broad section in the student Welcome booklet and information on StudentHome. This introductory information tells them about Library Services but in particular about the online library and how it can help them with their studies. We also take the opportunity to tell students about the easy routes in to the Library website and the huge range of resources available. There are also details on how to get help from the Library Helpdesk team seven days a week.

Some OU modules have integrated OU Library resources into the module materials. These resources include links to databases, quality-assessed internet sites, links to articles and information literacy activities. Students are provided with information on the use of these resources in their module materials and usually access the resources via a module website.

Can students use university libraries in their local area?

Open University students and staff can use other libraries to borrow books, to use collections for reference, or as a quiet place to work or study. The Libraries near you page on the Library website provides full details of the access schemes that the Library is currently signed up to, including the SCONUL Access scheme which enables you to gain access and borrow books from most university libraries in the UK and from some in Ireland.

My students are based outside the UK – what information services are available to them?

OU students based outside the UK can access the full range of electronic resources available on the Open University Library website. These resources include a wide selection of databases, over 20,000 full-text electronic journals, electronic books, online quick reference resources, full-text newspapers, the Safari information literacy skills tutorial, and much more. The Services for students page on the Library website includes an outline of what is available to students. Students based abroad can also contact the Library Helpdesk team for guidance and support in all aspects of information seeking and library use.

My students are offender learners – is there any guidance for using OU Library services in this situation?

Those OU students in prison who are allowed supervised access to the Internet can access the electronic resources on the Open University Library website. Those not allowed access may be able to arrange for the prison educator to access Library resources on their behalf. The prison educator will need to contact the Library Helpdesk and ask for a Use of Copyright Databases (Consultants) form, which needs to be signed by an OU sponsor. Alternatively tutors can print Internet material for their students, as long as they comply with copyright restrictions.

The Library can also provide an offline, zipped version of Safari, but please note that none of the links will work.

Not all of my students have access to the internet at home. What help is available to students to get access to the internet?

All UK public libraries now offer internet access although there may be a small charge. Students who need help in locating their nearest public library should ring the Library Helpdesk. (01908 659001)

In addition, the UK Online government initiative, designed to improve access to the internet, provides information on locating the nearest UK Online Centre with internet access. There are over 6,000 UK Online centres in the UK. Students can phone 0800 77 1234 or Library Helpdesk staff can search for a centre online for students.

The OU Library is currently taking part in the SCONUL Access scheme, a reciprocal borrowing scheme for HE libraries in the UK and Ireland. There is no requirement for member libraries to offer IT access to visitors registered under the scheme, though some universities do allow varying degrees of computer use depending on their own regulations. If students ring the Library Helpdesk, staff will use the SCONUL Access website to find HE libraries in their region and to check on the websites of these libraries for information on computer access.

Some of my students have special needs. Do you have any guidelines or tips available to help them use Library resources?

It is important to emphasise that students are always welcome to contact the Library Helpdesk for help. A member of the Helpdesk team would be happy to guide them through using the website over the telephone and respond to any specific queries.

The size of the font, background and text colour on the Library website can be changed by following some of the guidelines on the Website accessibility at the Open University page.

If students are unable to access online resources to do a literature search due to their disability, a Mediated Literature Searching service is available. Full details are available from the Library website. For housebound students, a postal loan service is available. To register for the service students will need to contact the Library Helpdesk who will send them a registration form to join the Library. Once this has been completed and returned students will be able to order books via the Library catalogue, email or telephone. Please check the Disabled users support page on the Library website for any new services.

I don’t know what Library resources are suitable for students on my level 1 module.

Different types of information are appropriate at different levels of study, and with your knowledge of the module and the capabilities of your students, you will be the best person to judge this. For example, newspaper articles, selected websites, and some of the less academic journal articles might be more accessible for novice students. Once students have had experience of using electronic resources, and have mastered some of the basic database search techniques, they will then feel confident enough to move on to some of the more complex resources such as electronic journal databases. Use the activities by level page to guide you to specific activities which may be suitable for your students.

How do students know what their passwords are?

Full instructions can be found on the Library's website. For almost every online resource they will only need their general OU Computer Username and Password sent to them upon registration.