Faculty-librarian poster project hits all the right notes
Collaborative teaching methods deepen students' understanding of jazz history
Natalie Boeyink, associate professor of jazz studies, teaches information literacy via jazz history in a collaboration between IU Libraries and the Jacobs School of Music.
“Once they learn what resources are available, they get so excited and want to learn more,” said Misti Shaw, associate director of Access and Learning at the William and Gayle Cook Music Library.
An information literacy collaboration between IU Libraries and the Jacobs School of Music is enriching the information literacy skills of jazz students thanks to Shaw and her faculty collaborator, Natalie Boeyink, associate professor of jazz studies.
A tailored research experience support by gifts to the Library
After arriving at IU in 2023, Boeyink noticed there was a robust information literacy and research skills program for most Jacobs music majors, but jazz students lacked those opportunities. Seeking to tailor a research experience unique to this group, Boeyink and Shaw received an IU Libraries Course Grant for Information Literacy. Together, they used it to create a meaningful research project in M390 History of Jazz 1 during Fall 2024. The collaborators have continued to refine their information literacy program for all jazz history courses.
Boeyink explains that her jazz history courses give students knowledge of jazz artists and their recordings, and the conditions and social political climates in which they lived. “I find it’s hard for them to know how musicians were impacted by culture and politics and the world in which they grew up,” she said.
Shaw assisted Fall 2025’s students through classroom and individual consultations as they worked to complete historical research posters featuring Indiana jazz musicians. Students learned about niche resources and databases for jazz research, including a rich archive of old jazz music magazines.
For the historical research posters, students were required to use at least five scholarly resources and create a printable 38” by 46” poster that includes data and images in a readable format for public display. Each student was given the name of a jazz musician who lived primarily in Indiana no later than 1958.
“That comes with challenges because there is not a huge list who made it on a national scale,” Boeyink said. Students needed to source peer-reviewed journal articles, historical newspaper articles, recordings and other online resources not always easily found, Boeyink added.
A positive impact on students
Students enjoy taking advantage of the libraries’ collections and research assistance. Reflecting on his poster project on jazz icon Bix Beiderbecke, student Robert Gramley writes that “The library resources were so helpful in finding high-quality information on my topic because of how old my sources were. I could not imagine not having the help I did.”
Student Sai Ramani’s poster focused on Jimmy Coe, a legendary saxophonist who can be difficult to research due to scholarly neglect. Shaw and Boeyink encouraged Ramani to explore different avenues of research entry. Ramani was grateful, adding, "The librarian-professor collaboration offered a multi-perspective approach to my research assignment and exposed me to different approaches to academic research."
The success of the collaboration for all involved has led Shaw and Boeyink to encourage their fellow professors and librarians to build similar partnerships. Creating rewarding research assignments for students, whatever the topic may be, is one of the key elements of the exceptional academic experience students expect from IU.
The librarian-professor collaboration offered a multi-perspective approach to my research assignment and exposed me to different approaches to academic research.
Sai Ramani, student
Contributors
Formatted for web byMaesa Ogas
Railsback Fellow for Library Engagement 2025-2026
