Information Literacy: the
Embedded Librarian
Workshop Goal and Objectives
 Faculty will gain an increased awareness of information resources
and will intentionally utilize resources and embed librarians into
on-site and virtual instruction.
 Objectives:
 To expand information literacy awareness
 To empower faculty to more effectively utilize information
resources in student assignments.
 To provide exercises which increase student awareness of
librarians as information consultants.
 To deepen collaboration between faculty and librarians.
What Is An Embedded
Librarian?
Embedded Librarians:
Work collaboratively with teaching
faculty, researchers and students.
Work outside the context of the
traditional library setting.
Join the classroom physically and
virtually.
How would an EL make a
difference?
The Embedded Librarian:
 Offers individual attention to students during
any stage of their research process
 Preemptively helps students resolve
information, research, and access issues.
 Provides specially designed content for courses,
including suggested resources, tutorials, search
strategies and research guides
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What Does the Librarian need
from the Instructor?
 Inclusion of librarian’s name and contact
information on course syllabus
 Announcement that a librarian will be a part of
the class and is available for questions.
 Promotion of the library and its resources.
 Periodic reminders of the importance of asking
librarians for assistance.
 Access to students via Blackboard or virtual
resource through chat and message boards.
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THE 5 LEVELS OF EMBEDDED
LIBRARIANSHIP
The 5 Levels
1. Entry Level
2. Twin Pack
3. Immersion
4. Co-Teaching as Information Literacy
Specialist (ILS)
5. Co-Teaching not identified as ILS
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1.
Entry-Level
 Librarian collaborates on assignment
development
 Librarian not responsible for grading
 One Information Literacy (IL) session
2. Twin Pack
 Librarian not responsible for grading
 Two Information Literacy Sessions
 One Information Literacy assignment
3.
Immersion
 Librarian collaborates on developing course
problems/ modules
 Librarian meets with student teams to assist with
topic definition, developing research strategies,
assessment of sources, and critical analysis
4. Co-Teaching (Librarian
identified as Information
Literacy Specialist)
 Librarian and faculty co-teach course.
 Librarian and faculty member responsible for:
 discipline-specific course design
 lecture preparation
 assessment design
 grading
 delivery of instruction.
5. Co-Teaching(Librarian not identified
as Information Literacy (IL) specialist)
 Librarian functions as in Level 4, without being
called an ILS.
On-Site Embedding
by
Kevin Osborne-Reference Librarian
Why Embed ?
 Improve + Enhance + Increase STUDENTS’:
Understanding
Research (questions and answers)
Success
How to Physically Embed
Information Literacy Sessions
Hosted Trainings
Consultations
Information Literacy Sessions
We come to you
We cover what ever you want
We come BACK when/if wanted
Hosted Trainings
Your class comes to us
We cover
 Strategies/Formulation
 Search Techniques
 Specialized features of databases and service
 RSS
 Accounts
 Alerts
Consultations
One on one
Small Groups
 Appointment
 Drop-in
 Office hours
Whole class
 Outside of regular class hours
Syllabus Exercise
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Virtual Embedding
 By Nina Wilson – Reference Librarian
Librarians can be embedded in Blackboard
 Blackboard
 BlackBoard can be used to scaffold instruction and
infuse information literacy activities throughout
subject-specific courses.
 Within BlackBoard there are a variety of add-ons, plugsins and building blocks that are integrated with the
software
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ELs as Blackboard TAs
 ELs provide students and faculty:
• Digital assistance and advice
• Assistance with assignments, course materials and
communication tools
• Pertinent materials and resources to the class site,
when given permission to post
Standard activities for the
virtual EL
 Introductory announcements and/ or emails to
students
 “Ask Your Librarian” discussion forum
 Instructional documents
 Video instruction sessions
 Participation in discussion forums (when
requested)
 Responses to phone, chat, and email queries
Additional Activities
 Tips about finding and narrowing topics
 Tips on choosing and using library databases
and resources
 Links to library resources; such as subject
guides, LibGuides, Subject Specific Databases,
and Reference Assistance
Library Links
 Examples




A link to course e-reserves
links to general library resources
Subject guides hosted on the Library’s website
Help pages for documenting or citing sources , such
as RefWorks
 Share animated tutorials (YouTube)
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LibGuides
 A LibGuide is a web-based content
management and knowledge sharing system
used by libraries
 A LibGuide provides links to course-specific
information resources
 Http://libguides.howard.edu/cybersecurity
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Syllabus Exercise
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The Proxy Login
OFF-CAMPUS ACCESS
BY KEVIN OSBORNE
Off campus access
 Password authentication
 How to Login
 Problems
Password Authentication:
keeps our subscriptions secured
from outside users
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Off Campus Login
 USERNAME: Bob.Smith
 your email address before the @
 PASSWORD: same as your HU-NET email.
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Problems
If for any reason you cannot gain access to the
proxy server:
1) Call ETS: 202-806-2020
2) Call the library technology office (UGL):
202-806-4096
3) Call your librarian and ask him/her to email
you what you need
Embedding with Experiential
Applications
WorldCat Local
&
Refworks
by
Tommy Waters-Business Librarian
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RefWorks
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Create a Refworks Folder
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REFSHARE
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Exercise
 Enhance your Syllabus with
Embedding
Bibliography

Bowler, M. a. (2008). Investigating the Efficacy of Embedment: Experiments in
Information Literacy Integration. Reference Services Review , 36 (4), 438-449.

Carlson, J. a. (2011, March). Embedded Librarianship in the Research Context:
Navigating New Waters. C&RL News , 167-170.

Daly, E. (2010, April). Embedding Library Resources Into Learning Management
Systems. C&RL News , 208-212.

Hall, R. A. (2008, January). The "Embedded" Librarian in a Freshman Speech Class.
C&RL News , pp. 20-30.

Mather, V. a. (2006). The Embedded Librarian Program: Faculty and Librarians
Partner to Embed Personalized Library Assistance into Online Courses. Educause
Quarterly , 4, 61-65.

Shumaker, D. (2009). Who Let the Librarians Out? Embedded Librarianship and the
Library Manager. Reference & User Services Quarterly , 48 (3), 239-257.
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