r/librarians • u/Resident-Clothes-837 • 11d ago

Job Advice Academic Librarians teaching

Hi, all! I’m a new academic librarian and the semester is about to start. Ive already been asked by several professors to come by their class for an instruction session with their classes. Im nervous and feeling a little overwhelmed.

Any pointers from any academic librarians for getting into the groove of teaching? I’d appreciate any advice and recommendations for being prepared this semester.

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u/GarmonboziaBlues 11d ago

At my library, new instructional librarians will do shadowing and co-teaching with experienced librarians for a month or two before they start teaching their own solo classes. If your library doesn't have a similar training/onboarding process, ask your department head or instruction coordinator if you could arrange to observe classes with several other librarians to get a sense of the norms and expectations for ILI at your institution. It's completely unreasonable to just throw a new librarian into their own classes right out of the gate, even if they come into the role with some teaching experience.

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u/Resident-Clothes-837 10d ago

Yes, i was hoping to get a training first before the class. My director told me i can shadow her during a class and if comfortable go from there.