RaD Instruction, Research Guides and Tours
RaD Instruction Sessions and Policies
8/22/24 Update: While we are delighted at the overwhelming demand for in-class instruction this fall, our schedule is now almost full and it may not be possible for us to accommodate additional requests. Thanks for your patience and please contact us at your earliest convenience to inquire about Spring 2025 instruction sessions.
For the Fall 2024 semester, the CU Boulder Libraries’ Rare and Distinctive Collections (RaD) will offer two types of instruction for classes: project-based learning sessions and orientations to searching for and working with RaD materials. Due to staffing and space constraints, we prioritize project-based requests that ask students to synthesize primary sources or other RaD materials for a defined, course-integrated outcome.
Project-Based Sessions: We are advocates for student engagement and success, and support creative uses of our collections in project-based learning assignments accordingly. We are happy to meet and brainstorm ideas. Examples of projects may include:
Exhibit curation
Digital humanities projects
Community engagement
Transcription, translation, or annotation
Creative writing or art projects
Group research projects or in-class presentation projects
Hands-on workshops, particularly those related to book binding, book structure, woodblock printing or letterpress printing
Short orientations (15-20 minutes) may be useful prior to the class meeting in the library to engage in project-based assignments.
Orientations: Orientations introduce students to primary sources and research related to RaD materials. Orientations often take place either in the course’s regularly scheduled classroom or a library instruction room and last 15-20 minutes. The objective is to help students learn how to locate, request, access, and use primary sources. Staffing and space permitting, orientations can be paired with an active-learning activity (such as a worksheet) in the RaD classroom using rare and primary source materials related to the class.
RaD Instruction Policies
We aim to accommodate all requests, within the limits of our scheduling and staffing capabilities. Priority is given to classes centered around well-defined projects that effectively integrate into course objectives. This ensures students are able to engage with rare materials or primary sources in meaningful ways.
The instructor of record must be present for class sessions in the RaD classroom.
Requests must be made at least 3 weeks in advance.
If either the instructor of record for the course or the assigned RaD instructor is out due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, we will do our best to reschedule.
When requesting a class session, please contact us at rad@colorado.edu to communicate learning objectives and send relevant documents (syllabi, project ideas, etc.). Rare and Distinctive Collections’ staff will schedule a meeting with you (in-person or virtual) to discuss learning outcomes, craft a list of relevant material, and schedule a class date.
Prior to the session, please spend time in class providing context to your students regarding session expectations, including: why the class is scheduled to meet in the RaD classroom, what the visit entails, a short overview of RaD policies, and a review of students’ learning goals and assignment.
