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Learning Support

  • 905-525-9140 ext. 23061
  • liblearn@mcmaster.ca

Need Help? Just Ask!

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Live Chat

open 10am - 10pm

More information about Ask A Librarian

Text us at 1-289-799-3005

Email

Email
Send your emails to library@mcmaster.ca

Library Staff Directory

Virtual Help

Request a research consultation with a Librarian

Call Us

Call the main line: 905-525-9140

Then dial the extension:
Mills, Innis, Thode: 22077
PrintSmart: 22111
Archives:  22789

Library Staff Directory

Find somebody at McMaster University

Self Serve

You'll find our tutorials and guides in the Research Help section of the website. Check it out!

Frequently Asked Questions


Here are a few specific support resources you might find useful:

  • How Library Stuff Works Video Tutorials
  • Library Basics - A guide for new users

Try one of these guides

 

Jump to more information about:

Borrowing | Interlibrary Loan | Printing | My Library Account

Media Help

Media Help

Call our services desk & speak to our friendly staff: 905-525-9140 ext. 20734

Email Lyons or stop by during Lyons' opening hours - we are located on the 4th floor of Mills Library

  • More information about the Lyons New Media Centre
  • More information about the Media Help Service

Remote Support

Teaching, learning, or researching remotely? We're here to help! The Library Remote Support Hub has been designed to help you with all your information needs. From accessing books online and connecting to electronic resources remotely to requesting a research consultation and seeking media creation support, the Library Remote Support Hub is here for you.

Overview Request a Class Request a Consultation Library Dogs Program Our Team

Learning Support Overview

INFORMATION LITERACY AND RESEARCH SKILLS FOR STUDENTS

The Learning Support team can provide synchronous or asynchronous information literacy instruction sessions for your courses, and can provide guidance on integrating information literacy and active learning into online learning environments. Learning Support librarians will also create customized course research guides, and learning objects that can be integrated into your course on Avenue to Learn.  As a continuted response to Covid-19, the team will be creating a series of research centered modules and leading a series of online workshops on library and research skills to assist students in the Spring and Summer terms. Stay tuned for an updated Event schedule.

The Library is your partner in teaching, learning and research.

Vision:

Empower and support all members of the McMaster community in developing the skills necessary for critical thinking, information fluency, and other modern literacies needed to skillfully navigate the complexities of an evolving information landscape.

 Mission:

In order to support McMaster University Library’s’ vision of advancing knowledge and discovery, fostering creativity, and building community, the Library’s Teaching and Learning Program seeks to develop critical thinking and support effective contributions to public and scholarly discourse through:

-   Providing one-on-one research consultations for students and faculty

-   Delivering classroom-based research skills instruction

-   Creating learning objects and tools for self-directed learning

-   Opportunities to work with and learn from primary sources and historical artifacts

-   Teaching use of new tools and technologies as they emerge

-   Collaboration with faculty and instructors to develop and implement new approaches to pedagogy

-   Outreach and partnership with the broader communities of which McMaster is a part

Information literacy skills are common to all disciplines, and support lifelong learning. They enable learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning.

An information literate individual is able to:

Objective Outcomes
  1. Determine the nature and extent of information needed
  1. Articulate a well-formulated question
  2. Understand the context in which information is created
  3. Understand how information is organized, indexed and accessed
  1. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
  1. Identify and access appropriate search tools
  2. Use search tools to identify appropriate information sources
  3. Locate and obtain the information in a timely manner
  1. Evaluate information and its sources critically
  1. Determine if the information found is relevant to the information need
  2. Develop and use criteria in order to assess the information found
  3. Assess the search process and revise as needed
  1. Incorporate selected information into his or her knowledge base
  1. "[Relate] disconnected pieces of information to discover patterns or make generalizations"
  2. "[Integrate] previously held beliefs, assumptions, and knowledge with new information" [Gilchrist]
  1. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
[Since the purpose is unique to each program, course or activity, outcomes should be identified by the parties involved at the initial planning stage.]
  1. Understand many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of academic integrity and avoid plagiarism
  2. Use information in compliance with Canadian copyright laws

Request a Class

Request a class

The Librarians from Learning Support offer course-related and course-integrated instruction on effective research and critical information use to McMaster faculty and students. Learning Support can provide synchronous or asynchronous information literacy instruction sessions for your courses. We are here to provide guidance on integrating information literacy and active learning into online learning environments.

Request an Information Literacy (Research Skills) class:: https://library.mcmaster.ca/forms/request-information-literacy-research-skills-class

We can:

  • Provide advice on creating effective library and information research assignments.
  • Teach your students how to critically think about their research needs, and how to use library resources. 
  • Create a course guide to help your students understand how to use library resources for their assignment.
    • See our Course Guides page: http://libguides.mcmaster.ca
  • Educate students about plagiarism and the ethical use of information.
  • Teach students how to correctly cite sources in their papers and bibliographies.

Request a Consultation

Request an appointment with a Librarian

Learning Support offers research consultations and drop-in office hours for all students, faculty and staff in person, and during COVID-19 via phone, email, Teams, Zoom or Skype.

Research Consultation Form

Research consultations can help you:

  • get started on developing your research question
  • decide on which databases are most relevant to your topic
  • create a better search strategy
  • critically think about which resources to use, and why
    and so much more!

 

Library Dog

Library Dog

COVID-19 has put the pet therapy visits on hold. Once we all are back on campus the Library Dog will be too! Stay tuned for that announcement. 

Library Dog

As part of the Dogs @ Mac program on campus, the Library welcomes the Library Dog to the libraries throughout the academic year to provide stress relief for students (and faculty and staff too!).

The Library Dog visits Mills Library one day every 2 weeks, and splits visits between Innis and Thode on those visits. These visits start in September and end around the start of exams in April/May.

Make sure to check out the visit schedule on displays throughout the library, and follow the Library Dog on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter = mac librarydog

Jeannie An

RJC Research Services Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 20561
anjean@mcmaster.ca
Learning Support, MBA Research Support at the Ron Joyce Centre

Sarah Cairns

Teaching and Learning Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23085
cairnss@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library

Nicole Doro (on leave)

Learning Support Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23085
dorone@mcmaster.ca
Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library

Anna Flak (on leave)

Learning Support Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23023
flaka1@mcmaster.ca
Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library

Katie Harding (on leave)

Learning Support Librarian, Engineering

905-525-9140 ext. 20370
kharding@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support
Helen Kula

Helen Kula

Associate University Librarian, Teaching and Learning

905-525-9140 ext. 21156
kulah@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support

Carly McLeod

Learning Support Librarian, Engineering

905-525-9140 ext. 20370
carly.mcleod@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support
Ines Perkovic

Ines Perkovic

Business Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 21359
perkovic@mcmaster.ca
Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library

Leeanne Romane

Graduate Studies Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23061
romanel1@mcmaster.ca
Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Fellows Study Room, Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library
Abeer Siddiqui

Abeer Siddiqui

School of Interdisciplinary Science Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 20733
siddia33@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support

Ariel Stables-Kennedy

First Year Experience Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23300
stablesj@mcmaster.ca
Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library

Erin Stienstra

Learning Support Librarian

905-525-9140 ext. 23023
stienste@mcmaster.ca
H.G. Thode Library of Science & Engineering, Learning Support, Mills Memorial Library
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Mills
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open 8am - 11pm

library@mcmaster.ca
(905) 525-9140 ext. 22077

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