Library Resources in WebAccess

    One of the projects I was assigned in Spring 2012 was to pursue a way of embedding library resources into WebAccess, CSM's online learning management system (powered by Moodle).  Online courses are an area of growth in higher education, which raises questions about what the role of the library and librarians can be.  Academic librarians are responding by 'embedding' themselves in campus LMSs (learning management systems). 

    For this project, I researched various methods of how other academic libraries have integrated their resources into Moodle-based courses, as well as how those librarians navigated the personnel side of the equation, in particular how to coordinate with faculty to gain access to courses.  While working on this project, I was lucky enough to also attend a one-day workshop on embedded librarianship through CCLI (California Clearinghouse on Library Instruction). After presenting some of the various options to the Library Advisory Committee, and getting some survey-based feedback from faculty about what library resources they would like to see in WebAccess, we determined that the ideal scenario would be to embed, by default, a standardized 'library block' in every new WebAccess course shell.

    Ultimately, we decided not to pursue the by-default block because of campus- and system-wide hurdles relating to updating to a different version of Moodle at some point in the future.  However, the most valuable outcome of this project was in the creation of a series of subject-specific library resource blocks available through the Faculty LibGuide.  Faculty can copy-and-paste the HTML code specific to their subject to create a library block in their course.  Through this project, I gained some valuable experience working as a liaison with faculty to get a sense of what library resources they are most eager to see, and likely to use, in their online courses.