Off-Campus Library Services

CMU's Off-Campus Library Services (OCLS) is nationally recognized for providing outstanding library services to the university's distance learners and faculty. In addition to the course reserves and copyright assistance described in the previous section, there are many ways in which OCLS can assist you and your students in successfully achieving your course learning objectives.

 

Student Services

One of the most challenging aspects of teaching off-campus students is introducing adult learners to today's research methods and techniques, especially if the students are coming back to the classroom after a long absence or are working at a distance. OCLS librarians and document delivery staff will assist students by identifying and providing instruction in using the library's resources, creating lists of resources relevant to the research topic, providing electronic copies of the articles and book chapters as well as print books, and answering questions related to using the APA style. Your students will appreciate the quick turn-around times and wealth of information available to them by phone, email, and web form.

 

Incorporating library research into your assignments

By designing effective library research, you can reduce instances of plagiarism, increase the effectiveness of your teaching , and maximize your students learning. Contact a librarian to discuss matching the parameters of your assignment to the resources and services available through OCLS.

 

Videos

Video Reserves
You may borrow videos for your classes through the OCLS Document Delivery service. To ensure that titles will be available for specific dates, please submit requests to DDO at least two weeks in advance.
Streaming Videos
OCLS has begun building a collection of streaming videos for use in instruction. Streaming videos are electronic resources that can be viewed entirely online, either in or outside of the classroom. All titles are available through the library's Centra catalog.
Video Purchases
You may also request video titles to be purchased for the library collection. Purchases will be based on existing collection needs, anticipated demand, and availability of funds.

Assistance with textbooks and case studies

Obtaining an examination copy: The easiest way to obtain an examination copy of a textbook is to contact the book's publisher directly and request a copy from them. Most publisher Web sites feature an online form for this purpose, and all sites provide customer service contact information. Contact a librarian if you need help locating this information.

 

Case studies

Examples of case studies are available through the links below. Please be aware that these documents are available on a for-fee basis and that all costs associated with the case studies must be assumed by you and your students.

 

 

Ways to discourage student plagiarism

The rise of electronic information has made student plagiarism a very real issue in higher education. Follow the links below for tips on discouraging plagiarism in your classroom.

 

 

Having a librarian present in your class

In the classroom: OCLS Librarians are happy to provide library instruction sessions to off-campus classes. Contact us to request a general library orientation, or to talk about tailoring a session to meet the specific needs of your course. If computer lab facilities are available, sessions can include hands-on instruction and immediate access to resources, including electronic databases and document delivery services.

Online classes: Librarians are also available to provide library instruction to online classes. Using the Wimba interface, a librarian can attend your online class to provide instruction on how to use the library's resources and services to your students. Contact us to request a library orientation session for your online class.

 

Helping your students with citation style and/or writing

The OCLS web site provides links to resources that will help students plan, write, and edit their research papers. Off-campus students are also directed to CMU’s Writing Center, which allows students to submit written pages electronically and receive reviewer comments and suggestions for improvement within two business days.

 

For more information contact OCLS at oclibsvc@cmich.edu or (800) 274-3838.

 

 

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