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Bibliographic Instruction

Bibliographic Instruction may be for YOU, if you are interested in:

Teaching academic library users how to access and use information by:

  • Developing orientation programs for all information formats, electronic and print
  • Introducing students and faculty to database searching
  • Helping students locate and use materials for term papers
  • Working with faculty to establish instructional programs and integrate information literacy skills into course content

SLIS offers courses that will help you develop and practice key skills needed to land professional positions in reference and bibliographic instruction. These include:

Elective courses also may include:

  • Courses offering advanced study in information resources for college collections in the fields of the humanities, social sciences, business, or science and technology
  • Courses on the presentation of bibliographic instruction programming, design and maintenance of guides and instructional sites in print and electronic format and issues related to human-computer interaction
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Job Outlook for this field:

  • Typical job titles include: Instruction Coordinator, Reference Librarian for User Education, Director of Bibliographic Instruction, and Instructional Services and Technology Training Librarian.
  • Over 20 such positions in academic libraries are posted annually in American Libraries (the magazine of the American Library Association). There is also a growing market for reference librarians with instructional skills in public and school libraries. Chronicle of Higher Education contains many Bibliographic Instruction positions.
  • Recent SLIS-IU graduates have been placed as instructional librarians in academic libraries at Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, and other colleges and universities across the nation.

Employers seek:

  • Academic libraries normally seek applicants who hold a graduate degree completed at a program accredited by the American Library Association.
  • For instructional positions, a graduate degree in instructional design, information systems, information science, or graphic design may be desirable.
  • Proven teaching or training experience may also help applicants secure a position in this area.

Opportunities to gain experience in this field:

  • Hourly job opportunities are available through the IU Undergraduate Library in the planning and practice of bibliographic instruction.

Professional Associations:

Interested in knowing more? Contact:

On campus:

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