Bizzell 5th Floor Special Research Collections Instruction Services
Service Overview
The 5th Floor Special Research Collections team encourages faculty members to integrate special research collections materials into their courses. We welcome discussions with faculty about our resources and using the collections for teaching and research.
What We Offer
Faculty are encouraged to use the 5th Floor Special Research Collections in their classes. We offer in-person or virtual general archival orientation sessions or specialized instruction sessions on class topics for undergraduate and graduate students. Consultations for instruction session planning and integrating our resources into class assignments are also available.
- Class visits to the 5th floor
- Virtual instruction sessions
- Instructional planning consultations
Get Started
Planning Class Visits to the 5th Floor
Supporting faculty teaching goals is part of our primary mission. We offer a variety of learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students that include:
- Learning how to find resources in our collections
- Gaining hands-on experience using primary sources
- Using primary sources to complete in-class assignments
Keep in mind, class visits typically require several weeks of advance notice and prior consultation with our curators. Contact us to schedule a consultation. Please include the class, date, and number of students.
Scheduling Virtual Instruction Sessions
We provide virtual instruction sessions via Zoom for virtual or asynchronous courses. During these sessions, we help students learn how to:
- Navigate our library catalog and archival finding aid database
- Navigate the OU Libraries website
- Locate resources in our digital collections
Contact us to schedule a virtual instruction session.
Integrating 5th Floor Special Research Collections Resources in Courses
Faculty who plan to have students use our materials for class assignments should contact us to consult with a 5th Floor Special Research Collections team member. Students who need to consult our materials for assignments outside of class visits should be encouraged to make a research appointment well before an assignment due date and should follow the appointment requesting procedures on our Research Services page.
If you plan to have all students in your course reference the same primary source for an assignment, please contact us for options, including holding materials for your class and/or providing digital alternatives.
Contact Information
FAQ
With an array of works on the 5th floor we are open to and have worked with a variety of programs and departments. Any and all are welcome.
Our curatorial team has been helping with instruction for many years and can provide examples or lists that may help with the integration of special collections into your course. We advise reaching out for a consultation to determine your needs, and so they can provide the many resources they have created.
Our semesters tend to fill up quickly, and it is advised that you reach out prior to the semester start by a few weeks to ensure that there is time to schedule your class.