the embedded librarian: integrating library resources into course management systems emily daly...
TRANSCRIPT
The Embedded Librarian:
Integrating Library Resources into
Course Management Systems
Emily DalyInstruction & Outreach Librarian Perkins Library, Duke University
This session
Background and history How we’ve gotten where we are Technical components Benefits Evaluation Questions and discussion
Why become embedded?
Students want library resources online, at their fingertips (surprise!)
Students don’t know what the library offers
We want to be where our students are, at their points of need 70% of Duke courses use Blackboard;
led us to include “Ask a Librarian”
Ask a Librarian
Ask a Librarian
Becoming embedded…
Ideal scenario was proposed – how do we turn vision into a more global reality?
Form a committee… Librarians in Blackboard was born Fall 2007: Pilot
Library Links
Library Links to Library Guides
Spring 2008: Brought more librarians on board
Subject Portals Task Force formed, recommended purchase of LibGuides
Fall 2008: Natural to transition from Bb interface to LibGuides interface
Library Guides
Course-specific Library Guide
From manual to automated
By middle of Fall 2008, realized that process is NOT scalable, began exploring automation
Spring 2009: “Library Guides” automatically appeared in EVERY course site
How?
User clicks on “Library Guides” Javascript redirects user to an on-the-
fly URL with Bb variable (subject code) URL points to django database Database reads the URL and matches
variable to LibGuide/webpage for that subject code
New URL placed in “Library Guides”
Benefits of method
Flexible – ANY URL may be placed in the database (LibGuide, Library website, list of databases)
Dynamic – URLs in django database may be changed at any point
Comprehensive – EVERY site at Duke now has “Library Guides” button
Task Force asked subject librarians to provide URLs for 260 subject codes
Included professional libraries By start of Spring 2009, had URLs for
68% of all subject codes
Have process – need content!
Subject-specific Library Guide
“Default” Library Guide
Using the django database
Let’s try it out…
Using the django database
Using the django database
Informing faculty of project
Informing faculty of project
Benefits to being embedded
Increased and enhanced collaboration with faculty and students
Access to students’ syllabi, assignments and course readings
Made privy to course communication (email, announcements)
Unexpected benefit
Has led to increased collaboration with Duke’s Writing Studio
Writing Studio Links
Evaluated our efforts at every step of the way
Encourage librarians to continue to become coursebuilders in course sites
Encourage librarians to continue to develop/enhance subject guides
Maintain, sustain, assess
Next steps
Committee will formally disband in June
Representative will continue to support embedded librarians and maintain django database
Will continue to evaluate effectiveness of program
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the following: Librarians in Blackboard and Subject Portals Task Force LibGuides and Django Project Instruction & Outreach Department Former AUL Tom Wall, who
envisioned this project and formed Librarians in Blackboard committee
Show and tell
What are you doing at your institutions?
Questions?
