Embedding library resources into Course Management Systems: A case study at Duke University
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Embedding library resources into Course Management Systems: A case study at Duke University Emily Daly Coordinator of Upper Level Instruction Perkins Library, Duke University
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Transcript of Embedding library resources into Course Management Systems: A case study at Duke University
Embedding library resources into Course Management Systems: A case study at Duke University
Emily DalyCoordinator of Upper Level Instruction Perkins Library, Duke University
This sessionBackground and history How we’ve gotten where we areTechnical 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 bornFall 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 automatedBy middle of Fall 2008, realized
that process is NOT scalable (in only 2% of all courses!)
Began exploring automationSpring 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 databaseDatabase reads the URL and
matches variable to LibGuide/webpage for that subject code
New URL placed in “Library Guides”
Benefits of methodFlexible – 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
Have process – need content!Task Force asked subject
librarians to provide URLs for 266 subject codes
Included professional librariesBy start of Spring 2010, had URLs
for 98% of all subject codes (had URLs for around 65% when project started a year ago)
Subject-specific Library Guide
“Default” Library Guide
Using the django database
Using the django database
Informing faculty of project
Informing faculty of project
Benefits to being embeddedIncreased and enhanced
collaboration with faculty and students
Access to students’ syllabi, assignments and course readings
Made privy to course communication (email, announcements)
Unexpected benefitHas led to increased
collaboration with Duke’s Writing Studio
Writing Studio Links
Maintain, sustain, assessEvaluated our efforts at every
step of the way (conducted usability tests of LibGuides in early Spring 2010)
Encourage librarians to continue to become coursebuilders in course sites
Encourage librarians to continue to develop/enhance subject guides
Next stepsCommittee formally disbanded in
June 2009Representative continues to
support embedded librarians and maintain django database
Will continue to evaluate effectiveness of Library Guides in Blackboard program and market program
AcknowledgementsSpecial 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 tellWhat are you doing at your
institutions? Questions?
