History Librarians Interest Group

I would like to bring to your attention a recent publication on teaching with primary sources that I edited. Entitled Engaging Undergraduates in Primary Source Research (Rowman & Littlefield), this volume represents some of the exciting work concerning student engagement in primary source research. It aims to provide insights into approaches in engaging students with primary sources and promote collaboration not only within the library, but also between the library and academic departments.

All of the chapters are co-authored by faculty members from various disciplines and their librarian partners, including archivists, instruction librarians, and subject librarians. They feature a wide range of primary sources-including both local archival and non-archival materials, as well as digital and physical materials and non-English language materials. The case studies demonstrate how through collaboration and the intentional design of their courses, faculty and librarians successfully incorporate primary sources into the classroom, explore the natural link between primary source and information literacy, and transform students' learning experience.

These case studies offer examples, strategies, and innovative ways to incorporate a wide range of primary materials into undergraduates' diet of secondary source research. The emphasis on transferable skills, as well as the diversity of primary sources and teaching areas they represent, will make it easy for anyone interested to adopt and/or adapt the featured strategies and activities. I hope you will be able to find examples from which you can draw guidance and inspiration to form partnerships and to (re)invigorate students' learning experiences involving primary sources.

More information about the book, including its table of contents, is available at <https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538138915/Engaging-Undergraduates-in-Primary-Source-Research>. Please let me know if you have any questions. I welcome your feedback.

Best,
Lijuan Xu
Associate Director of Research & Instructional Services
Skillman Library, Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042
xul@lafayette.edu
610-330-5152