The UB Arts & Sciences Libraries invite area high school teachers and librarians to investigate possibilities for student instruction and research in any of the UB Arts & Sciences Libraries to enhance students' skills and understanding of library research.

In an effort to combine our mission of serving UB students and faculty with the instructional mission of area schools, we welcome requests that are in keeping with the guidelines below.

Individual Student Visits

The University Libraries are open to the public, and area high school students are free to visit to use the print and online collections during all open hours. In order to access electronic resources in any of the UB Libraries, students will need to apply for a Library Research Station Access Card* at any library Circulation Desk by presenting current photo identification. For print collection use, visiting students may photocopy sections of print journals or books for a fee of $.10 per page via any library self-service coin operated photocopier. Additionally, students may purchase a photocopy debit card with a $1.00 bill from self-service card machines. Printing of electronic resources is possible through iprint@UB, the print management system at the University at Buffalo that allows non-UB library guests to pay for print jobs with a Print/Copy Card at a Print Release Pay Station. Print/Copy Cards can be purchased at any University at Buffalo library or computing site for $1, which includes $.40 of printing value. You can add additional money to the Print/Copy Card and print at a cost of $.10 per single-sided page, or $.20 per double-sided page. Reference librarians are available in all library locations to help students with their research and to help them determine the best resources. See our Reference hours and Ask Us pages for more information.

Group Visits

Classes of junior- or senior-level students working on projects or assignments requiring UB Libraries' resources are also welcome to visit the Libraries for an instructional session where a librarian will provide an overview of resources. These sessions are scheduled as staff and time permit, following the guidelines below. After reading the guidelines, feel free to contact us directly for more information on high school visits to UB Libraries -OR- submit a request to schedule a group visit using our online request form.

Campus tours may be requested separately or as part of a library visit, and are sometimes more appropriate for students. Please fill out the UB Office of Admissions form to arrange a campus tour or call them toll-free at 1-888-UB-ADMIT. Please contact Cindy Ehlers at the Arts & Sciences Libraries to schedule a library tour for high school students.

Group Size

Group size is limited to a maximum of 20 students to allow hands-on instruction. Groups must be accompanied by at least one adult (teacher or librarian) to supervise the group during the visit.

Scheduling

When/Who

The teacher or librarian should contact us at least four weeks in advance . Visits are scheduled during less busy times of the semester, usually when classes are not in session (i.e. UB semester breaks) and resources are more available. See the UB Academic Calendar when determining possible dates.

How

Please use the Libraries' online request form to schedule a high school class visit. Please be sure to provide details of the assignment or project. See the Libraries' Guide to Effective Assignments for suggestions.

Where

Instruction will take place in a hands-on computer classroom in the Libraries. The room can be made available after the class for students to continue their research. If the students will remain in the Libraries to use the public computers, they must be supervised and must request Library Research Station Access Card from the Libraries in advance.

Student Preparation Before the Visit

• Library Catalog Students should come with a basic knowledge of how to locate books and other materials using a library catalog .

• Databases and Journals Students should understand the basic definitions of popular magazines, scholarly journals and indexes (or online databases) . **Also, students will need a Library Research Station Access Card to gain access to the library databases outside of the classroom. The card can be obtained at any UB library circulation desk with photo identification.

• Asssignment or Project Details Students should be familiar with the assignment and their research goals for the visit. If the assignment entails researching and writing a paper, students should know their topics and, if possible, have performed some preliminary research or located some background information.

Important Library & Campus Information for High School Visitors

• Borrowing of books or other materials from UB Libraries: This service is only available to students from local high schools that participate in the WNY InfoPass program. Please consult your school librarian or media specialist *before* arriving at UB Libraries.
• Ask Us - UB Librarians
• Directions: Getting to the North Campus | Campus Maps | Maps to the UB Libraries | Parking *
• Library Hours and ASL Reference Desk hours
• Library Research Station Access Card (with proper photo identification)* cards are important for all guest students doing research at the UB libraries *
• Courtesy Borrower Library Cards
• Photocopiers
• Photocopy Debit Cards
• Research Links:
  • University at Buffalo Libraries website
  • Best Basic Resources - provides a list of key sources for finding books, articles and websites
  • Research Tips - a guide on how to do library research
  • Resources by Subject - access to online databases organized by broad subjects

Contact Information

For further information, contact:

Cindy Ehlers
Senior Assistant Librarian
Arts & Sciences Libraries
Phone: 716-645-2814, ext.452
Email: caehlers@buffalo.edu

To schedule a visit, see : Library Instruction for High School Teachers.

Last Update: 20 October, 2009