Ringmasters of the EndNote Circus: Orchestrating Citation Management Software Literacy from the R&I Perspective

Librarians are often called to provide instruction and support for topics or services that might appear to be outside of our bailiwick. Upon closer inspection however, we often uncover connections to information literacy and find creative ways for integration into library instruction. Just such a conundrum arose recently when the UTC campus adopted the citation management tool, EndNote. The UTC Library, recognized as the best place on campus to receive citation-related information and assistance, became the de facto provider of EndNote training and information. In this new role, the Library receives an avalanche of requests to introduce students and faculty to EndNote and to support them in its use for manuscripts, dissertations, theses, capstone projects, etc. Additionally, UTC’s rapidly expanding distance learning program requires us to provide the same level of assistance to distance students in an online environment. Despite this exponential increase in EndNote adoption campus-wide, the Library currently has just two librarians providing EndNote training and support—what a circus! In this presentation, learn how you can integrate any citation management tool into your information literacy sessions, adapt lesson plans, partner with faculty, develop tools for on-campus and distance students, and provide assistance beyond the 8 to 5 Monday to Friday timeframe for any citation management software, and jump through flaming hoops (just kidding). We will explore our successes and challenges, and will share tools and lesson plans that can be remixed or reused to provide support and instruction for any software. Ladies and gentlemen, step right up