High School Visits to the University of Maryland Libraries
The primary function of the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries is to support the research and academic growth of university students, faculty, and staff. In an effort to build and maintain ties with the local education community, however, librarians from the McKeldin Library have worked with students from the surrounding counties to develop their research skills and teach the advanced use of college-level material where appropriate. As community partners, we invite assignment-driven visits to allow local high school students the opportunity to explore our vast resources. We will make every effort to accommodate requests for library visits, but it is important for local educators to understand these visits must be scheduled during an available and approved time and must meet the following visit requirements.
Note
Please note that due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and campus guidelines, we are unable to host events for external community groups, such as high schools.
Expectations
- It is required that teachers first work with their school's library media specialist (librarian) in an effort to prepare students for the visit and guide them through the introductory steps of the research process. If a UMD visit is still required, please obtain the signature of your school's library media specialist on the visit request form with specific mention of the resources your class will need access to.
- Teachers are required to exhaust the resources available at their high school, local public libraries, and community college libraries before arranging a visit to McKeldin Library.
- Students should have a specific research assignment or topic.
- At this time, we are unable to schedule tours of the building or orientation sessions. For campus tours, please contact the visitor office: http://cvs.umd.edu/visitors/campustours/.
- Library visits should be no more than two hours in length.
Requirements
- Library instruction sessions may be arranged for students enrolled in grades 9-12.
- Arrangements must be made a least one month prior to the visit.
- At least two adults must accompany each student group. For groups larger than 30 students, the ratio of students to teachers/parents must be 15 to 1. Adults who accompany groups are required to remain with their students. Groups larger than 60 students cannot be accommodated without written approval from the hosting librarian.
- These sessions will be provided based on the availability of our librarians, space, and resources. University requests will take priority over community requests.
- Due to the academic schedule, please consider requesting an instruction session or visit during November, December, early January, April, or early May as these are times when librarians are less busy with university instruction.
- McKeldin Library is unable to accommodate community visits during the first 8 weeks of each academic term, or during exam weeks. See the University's academic calendar for these dates.
- Library instruction sessions must be scheduled between 9AM - 5PM and are not available during federal holidays or over weekends. See the library calendar for availability details.
Requesting a visit
To request a visit to McKeldin Library, please complete this online form. Requests cannot be completed without detailed assignment information. Upon receipt of the form, the UMD libraries will determine the appropriateness of the visit and the availability of librarians and will contact you to confirm or reject the request. To schedule a visit with another of the university's seven libraries, please contact that library's staff prior to submitting a request form.