Along a Continuum: Moving in Theory and Practice through the Collaborative to the Transformative in Teaching College and University Students to Use Government Documents in Research

Government documents have been a neglected resource in research among college and university students. While collaboration is recognized as an important element in teaching more effectively the nuances of using government documents, some librarians at Louisiana State University have discovered, based on insights into educational theory and process, that collaboration is not enough. A genuine enthusiasm about government documents is needed and this has led to certain transformations among teachers and students alike at LSU where the manner in which government documents is taught has fundamentally changed, as well as how the these materials are used by students.