Exploration 2: Library of Congress Patron Descriptions

Understanding Goal Understanding Goal

Library patrons pursue life long learning.

Investigative Question Investigative Question

What skills and knowledge do different types of Library of Congress patrons' need?

Patron Actions:

  1. Read the skills and knowledge used by different patrons.
  2. Think about a topic of interest.
  3. Decide if researching this topic at LOC.gov, What type of patron would you be to serve your purpose?
Library of Congress PATRON ACTIONS VISITOR RESEARCHER

Visitor skills, plus:

 DOCENT

Researcher skills, plus:

Use LOC.gov

LOC Web site
  • Uses LOC.gov Web pages such as America’s Library, Learning Page Features, Today in History, and Exhibitions
  • Searches from top box on home page
  • Uses different LOC.gov Web pages such as America’s databases to find items (American Memory, PPOC, and others)
  • Uses American Memory Collection special features
  • Uses bibliographic records to find proper credit lines
  • Uses multiple strategies to efficiently locate LOC.gov Web pages such as America’s sources in a variety of formats.
    1. Uses synonyms effectively
    2. Uses subject headings
    3. Limits a search
    4. Uses LOC research tools such as bibliographies
Library of Congress PATRON ACTIONS VISITOR RESEARCHER

Visitor skills, plus:

 DOCENT

Researcher skills, plus:

Uses technology

Prof. B. Anisimov and students by an electronic quick calculating machine URAL-2 at Moscow's Higher Techincal School named after Bauman

"Prof. B. Anisimov and students by an electronic quick calculating machine "URAL-2" at Moscow's Higher Techincal School named after Bauman"
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
  • Prints primary sources from Library of Congress Web pages
  • Saves, inserts, and resizes digital primary sources in Word or PowerPoint
  • Saves exact title of primary sources
  • Saves primary source URLs
  • Uses technology to find new ways for students to examine primary sources
Library of Congress PATRON ACTIONS VISITOR RESEARCHER

Visitor skills, plus:

 DOCENT

Researcher skills, plus:

Uses primary sources

Daytona Beach, Florida. Bethune-Cookman College. A student studying the world globe in the library

"Daytona Beach, Florida. Bethune-Cookman College. A student studying the world globe in the library"
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
  • Uses primary sources to illustrate curricular topics, build context/background knowledge, and make connections with students. Often one primary source is used in an Introduction of a topic.
  • Implements Learning Experiences that ask students to analyze primary sources and use evidence from primary sources to support a hypothesis related to the school district/state curriculum. Often a collection of primary sources are used to Investigate a topic.
  • Implements Learning Experiences where students consider multiple perspectives through analysis of primary sources and use primary sources as evidence to demonstrate new understandings related to a discipline and the school district/state curriculum. Often several collections of primary source collections are used in a Formal Assessment..