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Academic Technology: Integrating Library Materials: Home

Overview

Integrating Library Materials
INTEGRATING LIBRARY MATERIALS AND SERVICES within academic technology frameworks is essential for enhancing the accessibility and affordability of educational resources. This approach involves the seamless integration of library materials into Learning Management Systems (LMS) through tools like Leganto and Talis, as well as comprehensive content management strategies that leverage both electronic and physical library resources. By effectively integrating these services, educators can provide students with streamlined access to a wide array of learning materials, supporting academic success and reducing the financial burden of course materials. This section delves into key practices for integrating library resources, focusing on the utilization of reading list tools to embed library materials directly into LMS platforms and the strategic management of library collections to support affordable education. Through these initiatives, academic institutions can create a more inclusive and resource-rich learning environment, ensuring that all students have equitable access to the necessary academic tools and materials.

Integrating Library Materials Topics

READING LIST MANAGEMENT systems enable integration of library content and services into students' everyday learning environments. This is achieved via an LTI integration in learning management systems (LMS). These reading lists are built on top of library systems and managed mainly by library staff, creating a significant contribution for libraries in their schools' course delivery efforts. Providing free or low-cost course materials via reading list improves equity and access to course content, and can support the adoption of open educational resources (OER) by facilitating easy discovery and inclusion of library holdings and services. These systems are licensed for a yearly subscription fee which can be offset by double-to-triple digit student savings ROIs (e.g., $50 in students savings for every dollar spent on the subscription fee). Beyond student savings, organizational benefits for libraries who run successful programs include closer collaboration with a number of colleagues (e.g., instructional designers, general counsel, the registrar, bookstores, academic departments) and processes (e.g. course marking, student information system loads, LMS configuration). From the perspective of these other departments, the library is lightening their load, bringing expertise, and a bridge to copyright support. More in-depth information about what is involved in managing these systems can be found over on our Program Management page.

Reading List Management Systems

Many library vendors have developed LIBRARY LTI INTEGRATIONS of their own which, with buy-in and permission from your LMS administrator, can be installed in your school's LMS. They are normally a few ways to use them, but often they can be inserted straight from a button in the WYSIWYG editor of your LMS. Two of the most common LTI integrations from library vendors are content LTIs (add content from a database or publisher) and information literacy module LTIs. Below is a small list of examples which is not exhaustive.

Examples of Library Content LTIs

Examples of Information Literacy LTIs

LINKING TO CONTENT from libraries in syllabi and learning management systems can be a better fit than a reading list. Instructors will either assemble links in DIY manner or send a syllabus to the library requesting links. Following the eReserves paradigm, libraries may upload fair use portions of digitized physical content to a server and provide links. It is very difficult if not impossible for libraries to know how often their users are linking to content inside or outside the LMS. Your LMS admin may be willing to do a sitewide search for your EZProxy prefix in the LMS, but the output is usually poorly formatted and duplicative when courses have been offered more than one semester. Below are some content management problems and suggestions for linked library content

Content Management

Things that can go wrong:

  • Links missing prepended proxy information: People may be unaware or forget it is needed or vendors may not offer permalinks with proxy info included
  • Links may have proxy information, but not be functioning permalinks: People may copy the URL from the top of their web browser or use a link with session information
  • During vendor migration, permalink structure changes and some permalinks can't be forwarded or redirected: This is more likely to happen if you are copying links from the URL bar at the top of the browser instead of using the native Permalink functionality
  • OpenURL FAILS: metadata that once matched source to target is updated after the link has been copied, or librarians tweak the OpenURL configuration in a vendor administrative interface without foreseeing the consequences

Once the content is in a syllabus or LMS course, what ways are there to "content manage" these library links? Here are some strategies:

  • Be added to the LMS course; track when it is re-offered
  • Request raw export of links with certain characters in the URL from the LMS by the LMS administrator; a good working relationship with the LMS administrator is a must
  • Provide professors with shortened links, e.g. z.umn.edu or bit.ly; when problems arise, find a working link and replace the underlying link of the shortened link
  • Provide links requested by instructors as a LibGuide box, and embed the LibGuides box in the LMS via LTI