Laura Rhoden has been a part of the CSU family for seven years. In her role as a distance and instruction librarian, she helps students find what they need to be prepared for their curriculum. She also provides strategic steps and tips that make it easier for students to be successful in their search.
We asked her to share more about herself and what she loves most about her career:
- What can a student expect when reaching out to the library for assistance? When reaching out to the library for assistance, students can expect personalized research help from real live librarians (no bots!). During reference sessions, librarians will work with you to understand what you need and determine how best to assist. We can help you:
- Construct search strategies in order to find library resources such as peer reviewed or scholarly journal articles
- Brainstorm keywords to use in your library searches
- Choose the best databases to search
- Select appropriate search limiters to focus your search results
- Evaluate sources for credibility
- Set up database folders to organize your research
- Utilize tools and learn tips to help you succeed on your research journey
- And more! Just ask – if we can’t help, we will direct you to someone who can.
- What do you enjoy most about your job? What I enjoy most about my job is helping students find what they need in the library. Sometimes demonstrating a tip or strategy makes all the difference in a student’s library search results, and it’s awesome to experience the exhilaration of success along with the student. I also relish in connecting with my CSU co-workers and with my colleagues on the library team. I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of librarians – it’s a joy collaborating with them to help our students succeed in their research endeavors.
- What is your favorite CSU memory or moment? One of my favorite CSU memories is meeting CSU graduates and their families at Grad Bash. Since all of our interactions with students are online, it’s exciting to finally put faces with names and celebrate their achievements along with them.
- Considering your job, what advice would you give to a CSU student? Connect with the library early in your academic journey! We offer library orientation every Friday at 2 p.m. CDT, or you can request an Orientation On-Demand session at a time that is convenient for you. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out anytime you need assistance with your research! Librarians are always here and happy to help you with your research needs. We’re available by chat 24/7, and by phone, email, and one-on-one research appointment Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT.
- What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband and two teenagers and taking care of my pets (which include two dogs, three cats, and a small flock of laying hens!).
To hear more stories like Laura’s, visit the Communicator’s features section.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
