By Joan M. Serpico

Rider University’s Moore Library was thrilled to host two high school groups in October.  As the Instruction and Outreach Librarian for Rider University, I was pleased to hear from Ewa Dziedzic-Elliott, Library Media Center Specialist at Lawrenceville High School and Laura Bishop, Library and Media Center Director at Hun School of Princeton that they were interested in a visit to an academic library.

On Thursday, October 13, 2016 twenty-three social studies honors students from Lawrenceville High School came with Ms. Dziedzic-Elliott and their history teacher, Mr. Wolf.  Their goal was to find primary sources relevant for their research on colonial America.  After some basic instruction, students used Moore Library’s catalog to search for books as well as some handy internet sources like Yale Law School’s Avalon Project and American History: From Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond from the University of Groningen.   

After finding what they were looking for, a flurry of printing and emailing ensued before a lunch break at Cranberry’s, Rider University’s food court.  Returning to the library refreshed, the students gathered in groups to compare their findings and collaborate.  Dziedzic-Elliott later reported of the visit, “Our students said it was time well spent. They were able to collaborate and use new sources.”  It was so much fun for all of us that we are hoping to plan future visits for other Lawrenceville High School AP classes.  

A few days later on Wednesday, October 19, fifty seniors from The Hun School of Princeton visited for research instruction and the opportunity to search for scholarly articles related to their Capstone Experience, an independent project completed by all Hun seniors.  According to the Hun School of Princeton’s Capstone Experience 2017 pamphlet, the Capstone Experience “provides opportunities for students to complete in-depth studies or explorations of things that are meaningful to them.”   Their goal was to find two credible, scholarly sources on a topic that is related or directly relevant to their Capstone project.

Students learned some tips and tricks for effectively searching Academic Search Premier, a general database that they could access on Rider’s campus and from their school library’s website should they want to continue their research after returning to school.   In addition to their scholarly research, Hun School students were treated to a campus tour led by Rider University students Allison Alfano and Jessica Mosteller.  The reported highlight of the tour was the campus Starbucks!  

The Library and Media Center Director, Laura Bishop, later wrote, “All the teachers agreed it was a good experience, and a good use of our time!”  We are hoping to make the visit an annual event.

Joan M. Serpico is the Instruction and Outreach Librarian at Moore Library, Rider University.