Skip to Main Content

Millard Sheets Library


Workshops

The Library offers an array of workshops with a primary focus on information literacy. They can be presented in the Library Lab, your classroom, or via Zoom. In some cases, an online video or tutorial may be available.

For all workshops, faculty are asked to:

  • Use our booking form to schedule the session. Please wait for confirmation from one of our library staff members; they will share an Outlook invitation with you.
  • Schedule at least one day before the workshop. We prefer having at least a week's notice to prepare.
  • Be flexible with scheduling.
  • Stay with the students for the duration of the workshop. Do not leave.

What We Offer:

General Information Literacy
  • Welcome to OwlCat (30 min.): A librarian will lead students through the new library catalog, OwlCat, and how they can become power users.
  • Guided Research (60 min.): A librarian will work one-on-one with students to help them find a topic, find sources for a topic, or navigate our research resources. Best held in person in the Library Computer Lab
  • Citations and Annotations (30 min.): Covers creating and using citations as well as how to do Evaluative Annotations.
  • Copyright and Fair Use (30 min.): Overview of copyright laws in the United States, fair use, and the public domain.
  • Databases Tutorial (30 min.): A librarian leads the students through accessing and using a specific database, including creating an account, searching, and citations. Popular databases include JSTOR, The New York Times, and Grammarly EDU.
  • Finding and Evaluating Images (60 min.): Covers evaluating non-print sources, problems with description, and search tips and tricks. Best held in person in the Library Lab.
Course-Specific
  • Introduction to Research for Visual Culture 1: Gateways to Art and Culture (AHCS 122) (60 min.): We introduce students to the library, discuss keeping a research log for the I-Search paper, and search for print books using OwlCat. Best held in person in the Library Lab so students can locate a print book in our stacks during the session.
  • Writing as Discovery: Thought Lab 1 (ENGL 108) (60 min.): This session introduces how to evaluate sources based on the criteria for writing evaluative annotations. The focus is on "types of sources / intended audience" and "credibility / authority."
  • Capstone Refresher (30 min.): This workshop is recommended for Capstone (LIBS 440). A librarian goes over research resources and strategies for Capstone, and how to get reference help. Includes a demo of OwlCat.
  • What Is Research?: Recommended for CAIL 200 courses.
Special Collections

Please schedule these sessions at least one week in advance, as they are typically tailored to the instructor's specifications.

  • Zines
  • Artists' Books (forms and/or history)
  • Institutional Archives
  • Josef Albers' Interaction of Color
Faculty-Led

Faculty can schedule the Library Lab for their own instructional workshops. No library staff will be present. Please note that this is not available for the duration of an entire class period. Librarian-led and SLC workshops have first priority.

Materials Collection Exploration

Request a guided class visit to explore our Materials Collection.


Reserves

To support their courses, Otis Faculty can place items from the library's collection on reserve for their students.

Traditional Course Reserves

Faculty members should bring the item(s) to the Circulation Desk and fill out a Reserve Form (physical forms are available at the Circ Desk). Library staff will prepare the item(s) for their new circulation and catalog status. The item(s) are then relocated to the Reserve Shelf behind the Circulation Desk for the duration specified by the professor.

Students can use the item by asking a library staff member. Typically, reserve items are Library Use Only, meaning they do not leave the library so that other students can access them promptly. Professors can also decide that reserve items can be checked out for 24 hours.

Please be aware that the process of putting an item on reserve can take up to three days. For questions regarding reserves, contact Vickie Thomas.

Electronic Reserves

Some digital materials are available 24/7 through the College's Learning Management Systems (the Nest).

Video Reserves

Videos are generally only put on reserve for the week(s) needed. Faculty may check out the videos to play in the classroom; students can only use these items within the library (we have portable DVD players and headphones available). Please send your screening list and any other questions to Derek McMullen.


Suggest a Purchase

If there is an item you would like to teach a course or think we should add to our collection, let us know by filling out the form below:


Borrowing from Other Libraries

Accessing Other Libraries

There are many other libraries in the greater Los Angeles area that the Otis Community may find useful. 

We encourage you to participate in your local public library systems, including but not limited to LAPL (the Westchester branch is across the street from our campus, at Lincoln Blvd. and Manchester Ave.), Santa Monica Public Libraries, Beverly Hills Public Library, Cerritos Library, LA County Libraries, etc.

Most museum and academic libraries have programs welcoming visiting researchers, such as the Getty Research Institute, LACMA, LMU's Hannon Library, and UCLA's Arts Library. You will typically have to schedule an appointment in advance.

If you are curious whether a specific item you are looking for is held at another library, try searching in WorldCat. This will look through the collections of its member libraries; at this time, our library does not participate.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Unfortunately, we do not participate in any Interlibrary Loan program.

Even still, we are happy to assist students and faculty in finding the resources they need. Students and faculty are encouraged to suggest that we purchase any needed/desired books and other materials.

If you are outside the Otis campus community and interested in borrowing an item from our collection, please contact us at library@otis.edu.

SCELC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing

This service is only available to current Otis faculty. To take part, you must:

  • Make sure that the SCELC institution participates in this service. Review the list of participating institutions.
  • Consult the other library's policies and procedures. These should be available on their website.
  • Check that the item(s) you want to borrow is available.
  • Request a signed authorization form from us at library@otis.edu.
  • Make sure to return any materials you have borrowed on time. If you incur any unpaid fees or fines that are billed to the Millard Sheets Library, we may add those charges to your Otis account and/or limit borrowing privileges.

For SCELC faculty from participating institutions:


Teaching/Learning Center

The Teaching/Learning Center (TLC) is a faculty-dedicated space where you can do work and receive support for best practices, instructional technologies, and Otis College systems such as the Nest, Zoom, and Webmail.

Otis College of Art and Design | 9045 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 | MyOtis

Millard Sheets Library | MyOtis | 310-665-6930 | Ask a Librarian