Avoid common homework assignment problems!

Encourage your students to:

• Understand the assignment. - Expectations should be clear. If assignment sheets were given out, have students bring them to the library.
• Plan ahead. - Deadlines should be clear. Students should be encouraged to start promptly, as some materials needed may be requested by other students
• Come prepared. - Students should be prepared to bring their own supplies including, paper, pen/pencil, floppy disks, and money for photocopies, etc.
• Ask for help. - Students are encouraged to ask for help if needed.

More tips:

• Hand out written assignment sheets and phone or fax one, in advance to the library. Verbal instructions are often forgotten.
  
• Give students a choice of titles, or allow librarians to recommend substitutes. The Library does not have enough copies of a single title for and entire class.
  
• Check our online commputer catalog before making an assignment. Reading lists or assignments may require use of materials that are not available.
  
• Notify your library of assignments two weeks in advance. Lack of advance notice results in the first few students checking out all available references. Encourage students to use materials at the library.
  
• Remind students to be prepared to take notes or photocopy some materials. Reference materials and special collections may not be checked out.
  
• Ask the students to make their own illustrations or stipulate the use of photocopies. Requirements for color illustrations lead to mutilation of library materials.
  
• Allow students to use a broad range of resources. Reference requirements that are too specific or complex strain limited resources.
  
• Allow students flexibility in number of pages with librarian's recommendation. Requirements of books of a specific length severely limits availability