Services for Faculty

Liaison Librarians can assist you with inquiries about resources, instruction and research consultations. Each librarian is responsible for assigned schools, colleges, programs and departments.  A list of librarians and their specific subject assignments is available. 

Resources and Collections  

Borrowing  

Faculty are welcome to borrow materials from Seattle University, from other libraries through Summit, and InterLibrary Loan. For more details on what you can borrow and how to do so, please see our Borrowing Guide 

Faculty may also exercise proxy borrowing privileges by designating another individual to pick up library materials on their behalf and enjoy reciprocal borrowing privileges at the libraries of member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.  

Course Materials and Reserves  

The Library offers physical course reserves and other options for connecting students with course materials. Visit our Course Reserves guide for information on how to make library materials available to students enrolled in their courses, and our guide to textbook options to see the different ways to use library and other materials in your courses.  

Subject Liaison Librarians are available for consultations on low or no-cost materials for your course. This can include finding Open Educational Resources or identifying library materials that can be used as course materials.  

Recommending Materials for the Library  

Faculty are encouraged to suggest materials to be added to the library collection. You are welcome to suggest a purchase through our Recommend a Purchase form, or you can reach out to your Liaison Librarian.  

Library Instruction  

Librarians can work with you to integrate information literacy instruction sessions into your course. The aim of library instruction is to:  

  • build your students’ research skills  
  • increase critical thinking and evaluation of resources  
  • connect students with the most appropriate sources available to meet their research needs 

Synchronous instruction sessions are available upon faculty request. Librarians are available to meet you in the classroom, host sessions at the library, or meet virtually via Zoom. Librarians are also available to work with you to create asynchronous Canvas modules and/or tutorials for your students. 

To schedule a library session, fill out a request for library instruction or contact your Subject Liaison Librarian. 

Research, Scholarship and Creative Works Support  

The librarians can help guide you through all aspects of your research and scholarship, from idea development to publication.  

There is a helpful guide for identifying funding opportunities, including lists of: 

  • funding databases and directories 
  • public and private funding sources 
  • Seattle University research funding opportunities 

The Library maintains short tutorials and how-tos on topics such as: 

  • finding citation counts 
  • identifying your h-index 
  • populating your ORCID profile  

There is also a guide to help you find and understand different research or publication impact metrics, such as journal impact factor, researcher h-index, and more. 

Seattle University’s institutional repository, ScholarWorks, highlights the work of Seattle University faculty, staff and students as well as historical items from Lemieux Library archives, making these materials freely available online. You are invited to view or contribute your own research or creative works or ask questions about ScholarWorks by emailing scholarworks@seattleu.edu.   

There are Library databases or resources that can help you with evaluating and comparing potential avenues for publication.  

  • Evaluate and compare journals using citation data and impact factor drawn from over 7,500 scholarly and technical journals in the Science and Social Sciences fields.  
  • Offers information for authors to help get papers edited and published in journals. Includes Business, Computer science, Education, Health administration, Nursing, and Psychology resources. Also includes “Predatory Reports” which helps identify predatory journals and publishers.  
  • Evaluate and compare journals using citation data to identify a CiteScore. CiteScore allows for comparing journals within a subject area and the ability to limit journals by their quartile/tiers.  

Contact your library liaison or email scholarworks@seattleu.edu if you need further support with your research, scholarship or creative works.  

Collaboration Spaces  

The John Popko Faculty Lounge is a reading room on the 6th floor that is a dedicated faculty space for reading, conversation and collaboration. Group Study Rooms are available to students, faculty and staff, and can be reserved ahead of time or can be booked on an ad-hoc basis.  

The Library Makerspaces empower the SU community by providing them with the resources to explore digital and physical making in a space that is grounded in inclusivity and open-mindedness.  

  • The Media Production Center has tools, training and space for creating original multimedia productions for specific courses, clubs or departments.  
  • The Billodue Makerspace offers a variety of maker-related activities including sewing, fiber arts, bike maintenance, 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics, vinyl cutting, and glass work.  

Faculty are encouraged to contact the Manager of the Billodue Makerspace to discuss possible assignments for their course and/or to schedule a class visit. 

Additional Useful Resources 

Below are some scholarly and professional resources that may be of particular interest to faculty.  

  • The newspaper for higher education. Full-text articles directly from the publisher, 1995 to present. 
  • Find databases and other resources organized by subject 
  • Support for Zotero and RefWorks, citation managers that allow you to collect, organize, and cite research sources.