LIB 100 Syllabus / Palmer

Cypress College

Fall 2025 - CRN 14367

Your Instructor is Leslie Palmer

SYLLABUS

Welcome to LIB 100!

This is an 8 week asynchronous online class.

This class is designed to introduce you to research and the role of the library in the research process. We will learn to locate, retrieve, analyze, evaluate, and cite appropriate sources (such as journal articles, books, websites, videos) on a given subject.

The topics covered include developing research strategies, using research tools on the Cypress College Library website, and critical evaluation of sources.

Library 100 C Introduction to Research course description

Your instructor - Leslie Palmer

                                                  A photo of my family in the 1970's. I am the one one right in the light blue dress with my dad.

                                                                                            My sister is on the left with my mom.

Here is a little biographic info about me!

I was born in Pasadena, California and grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the 1970’s. 

I loved to read as a kid and spend time in the library. As a teenager, in the 1980’s I loved making art and listening to music.  

I went to community college on and off for several years, changing my major lots of times, but never getting a degree. 

As I got older, I had many different jobs, including jewelry-maker, cashier, camp counselor, childcare worker, store clerk, bartender, and I eventually found myself working in a library.

I decided at 30 that I wanted to be librarian. I got my AA from Orange Coast College, transferred to CSUF to get my bachelor’s degree, then onto San Jose State where I got my master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences. Returning to school as an older student was challenging but fun. Who knew that my love of libraries as a kid would end up becoming my career?

I have worked in libraries for the past 30 years, both public and academic. I have worked both as a full-time librarian and now as an adjunct librarian at Cypress College. I love working at Cypress and helping students is literally my favorite part of the job!

When am not working, I like to collect records and listen to music and watch old movies with my husband. I still DJ sometimes and have a radio show with a friend every December and January.

        Me DJing 80's records in Orange County

If you have any questions about our class, doing research for another class, or anything about the library, tutoring, or the Cypress College campus, please reach out to me! I am more than happy to help you find answers to any questions you might have.

Cypress College has a bunch of other resources, besides the library. Some of these include the Health Center, Financial Aid, Career and Transfer Center, Disability Support Services, LGBTQ+ resources, the Veteran's Center, the Bookstore, Counseling Center,  free tutoring in the Learning Resource Center, and so much more.

Whether you are an online only student or have classes on campus, Cypress College has ways to support you on your journey.

Leslie Palmer

My Contact Information for any Questions

E-mail:

• Course Website inbox log onto Canvas through https://cypresscollege.instructure.com
• or email me directly at: lpalmer@cypresscollege.edu

 Student Hours: email me @lpalmer@cypresscollege.edu to set up an appointment to meet in person in the library or virtually in a Zoom.

I check my email regularly, but please give me at least 24 hours to respond.

Grading

Will be calculated based on percentage in the following areas:

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

50-59% = F*

*Work turned in will always earn points and never be considered failing. Failure is only achieved by not turning in assignments or not participating.

1. After articulating a research need, construct and implement a search strategy using appropriate key concepts and terms in order to locate and retrieve books, articles, and authoritative web sites using a variety of library and Internet search tools.
2. During the research process, differentiate between the types of sources obtained, evaluate the quality and relevance of these sources to the research question, and revise the search strategy, if necessary, to obtain more relevant results to the research assignment criteria.
3. When producing a research paper, correctly synthesize source material into a bibliography or a list of references according to a specified style manual such as MLA.

You Can Be Successful in this class:

• Each week there will be a plan for the week that includes:
  • Read the readings available through the weekly links on the course Canvas site.                No Textbooks Required!
  • Watch any linked videos within each week's module.
  • Complete weekly assignments, discussions, self-tests or surveys for that week.
• Complete the open book (open resource) final exam.
• Turn in a final bibliography.

• Access to Internet capable device, such as your mobile phone, tablet, or computer or laptop.
• Word or Google Docs.
• If you do not have a working computer or laptop to do your work for the class on, you can come to the Library or LRC and use one of the desktop computers free of charge, except for printing, which is .10 a page b/w, and .60 a page for color.
• If you are having trouble answering a question, please email me and let me know.

We must treat every individual with respect. We are diverse in many ways, and this diversity is fundamental to building and maintaining an equitable and inclusive campus community. Diversity can refer to multiple ways that we identify ourselves, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, language, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Each of these diverse identities, along with many others not mentioned here, shape the perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus. We, at Cypress College, will work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion not only because diversity fuels excellence and innovation, but because we want to pursue justice. We acknowledge our imperfections while we also fully commit to the work, inside and outside of our classrooms, of building and sustaining a campus community that increasingly embraces these core values. Each of us is responsible for creating a safer, more inclusive environment.

Please be respectful of others in our class, when interacting with each other in class Discussion Board assignments, and in general. 

Class Schedule

• Each weekly assignment and/or quizzes and readings should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
• Due dated assignments are due by Midnight of that date. Late assignments are always accepted. But please be aware that you could get behind on understanding the material, as the units build upon each other.
• You can always re-do any assignment.

Important Dates for LIB 100/ Fall 2025

• Monday, October 20th, 2025 - Class starts
• Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 - Last Day to Drop With a Refund
• Monday, October 27, 2025 - Last day to Add LIB 100
• Monday, October 27, 2025 -  Last day to drop without a "W"
• Monday, December 1, 2025 - Last day to drop with a "W"
• Saturday, December 13, 2025 - Last official day of class

Cypress College Library Homepage 

Online Chat service - click on Ask Us icon in top right corner

Text us: 657-214-4639

Reference Desk: librarian@cypresscollege.libanswers.com

When You Need Help

Course Help

• If you have a question about the week's materials or how to answer a homework question, email me.
• If you have a personal issue or question, email me.
• If you have any other research concerns, you can contact me or use the "Ask Us" button on this page or the library website. You will get help from a librarian.

Technology Help

• Chat with Canvas Support (Students)
• Canvas Training Services Videos Portal

Help with Other School Matters & Life

• If you need assistance with life in general, try these Student campus resources. They are free to all our students.
• Enroll in the Cypress Student Support Hub in Canvas. You can find info and access to many and services on campus.

• Charger Assessment Team (ChAT) Cypress College's ChAT is dedicated to fostering the well-being and safety of our campus community. ChAT addresses and aids students facing distress or displaying concerning behavior. If you notice another student struggling, please submit a referral to ChAT.  It's crucial to note that in cases of threatening behavior or imminent danger, you should call 911 and Campus Safety at (714) 484-7387 immediately.

I have made every effort to make this course accessible to all students, including students with disabilities.  If you encounter a problem accessing anything in this course, please contact me immediately by email and also contact Disability Support Services (DSS) at (714) 484-7104.

This class is an open-book class, meaning that when you are completing quizzes, tests, or assignments, you can refer back to the readings and videos in our Units, to use as a guide. 

It may be tempting to try to use AI tools like, Chat GPT and others to help you do your work.

Please do not do this for this class. AI can give you the incorrect answers to the questions I am asking you.

Using AI to try to complete the quizzes, Discussion Board questions, and assignments for our class is not a way to succeed in our class.

If you are ever confused about an assignment or any of the readings or videos or instructions for our LIB 100 class, please email me so I can help. I am here to help support you in your journey in learning more about Research!

To learn more about how AI might not help you in the right way for research assignments, take a look at this video from the Washington Post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8liUOepAO9s