Integrating Library Resources into
Desire2Learn Courses
Presenters:
Susan Mee:
RIT Demo
Denise Kreiger:
Monmouth University Demo
Jonathan Jiras:
RIT - Technology Overview
Wendy Savoth:
Monmouth University Details
Susan Mee
Rochester Institute of Technology
• Library Resources Link Server
• Campus wide implementation
• Customized Library resources available in
every course – from Physics to Phys.Ed.
• On campus, Online, Distance and Blended
Courses ~ whether using D2L or not
Library Resources Link Server
• Modular Web Based Application
• Is not a widget – avoids limitations of widgets – provides
customized resources based on college, dept, or course
• Link from main navigation bar of D2L – available from
every screen
• Integration of all reserves + customized library resources
• Added to default course shell – appears in all courses –
campus wide and beyond
• myLibrary link branded for RIT’s myCourses
Three Levels of Content
1. Course-specific content
– reserve material
2. College or Program-specific content
– contact info, database lists,
subject guides, and website lists
3. Neither
(common to all courses, colleges, and programs)
- research tools, library account, books tab
Three Views
1. Student
2. Faculty
3. Distance Learner
Summary of Benefits
•
Modular, web based application. Resides outside of D2L
•
Links to existing systems – pages on web server, III
reserve module
•
Does not require library staff to edit course shells or
duplicate processing
•
In every course Nav Bar by default – no privacy or
permission issues – library staff does not need course access
•
Decreased reserve processing by at least 25%
•
Encourages librarians to participate in the success of D2L
•
Customizes the library experience for users
•
Makes the library and library resources important D2L
assets
•
Easy migration from quarter to quarter
Denise Kreiger
Monmouth University
A University-Wide Initiative
Why Integrate?
• Investment: MU Guggenheim
Library has undergone
extensive renovations to benefit
university community and
preserve historical value
• Challenge: Library is physically separated from main
campus. Bring Library services & resources to forefront with
greater visibility.
• Goal: Better service students & faculty, both on campus and
remotely.
eCampus Solution
LMS eCampus (D2L) offers an enterprise-wide
solution for integrating Library services and resources:
• Successfully deployed in Fall ’05 with course shells
created for all teaching faculty in Monmouth University.
• Available 24/7, with virtual access for students and
instructors on-campus and remote locations.
• MULibrary link added to eCampus NavBar as “portal”
to Library website.
• MULibrary page contains links to general Library
services & resources, as well as school-specific,
department-specific, and course-specific resources.
Demonstration
Jonathan Jiras
Rochester Institute of Technology
Technology Overview
• Big Picture
• RIT details are presented elsewhere (check handout for URL)
• General solution is the same for both RIT and Monmouth
• Cooperative project
• Enriches both the library and courseware
• Work with your librarians
Typical Academic Library Resources
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Library Reserves
• Electronic course reserves (class specific PDFs)
• Traditional print reserves (books and photocopies)
• Library handles all work and tracks/clears copyright
• April 2006 e-reserve stats for RIT:
- 11,527 electronic files
- 710 courses supported
- accessed 130,335 times
- 381 traditional reserves
Librarian-authored web pages
• Subscription databases for each discipline/subject
• Library services and research tools
• Help guides on using the library
• Subject specialist contact information
• Services for specific patrons (faculty, distance learners…)
• much, much, more….
Three Systems to Integrate
Desire2Learn
CMS
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
The Library Resources Link Server
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
The Library Resources Link Server
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
Separate system – outside of all three systems
Takes URL parameters
Links to pre-existing content
Trivial logic – parses course numbers
Very simple integration solution
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Step One – Pass URL Variables
role
course number
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Step Two – Get Library Reserves
role
course number
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
list of reserves
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Step Three – Dynamic Web Page
Dynamically
Generated
Web page
role
course number
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
list of reserves
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Links to Library Reserves
Dynamically
Generated
Web page
role
course number
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
list of reserves
Library
Reserves
Library
Website
Links to Relevant Library Content
Dynamically
Generated
Web page
role
course number
Library
Resources
Link Server
Desire2Learn
CMS
list of reserves
Library
Reserves
links to program,
department, or
college specific
librarian-authored
web pages
Library
Website
Possible Future Development
• More content when-and-if specific librarians develop it
for additional programs/departments
• Make it a database driven application
• Integrate with additional courseware packages
• Integrate with faculty authored websites
• Library systems changes
Library
Catalog
- electronic resources
management system
- database driven library website
Details on RIT Implementation
http://library.rit.edu/desire2learn/
Flash video summary (6 minutes)
PDF handout:
Screen shots
Live URLs
Sample code
Web accessible presentations (with audio)
Wendy Savoth
Monmouth University
• MU Library web pages already contain pertinent
information
• Librarians collaborate with faculty members to
define school-specific, department-specific and
subject-specific existing web pages
• Information will be entered via a web form by the
Librarians
• MULibrary link clicked, one page of code will
generate dynamic information
Why Database Driven
• Information always up-to-date
• Reports can be generated easily
• Maintenance of links can be done by the library
personnel thus assuring data integrity
• Target information from general to specific
levels:
–
–
–
–
–
School
Department
Subject
Course
Section
Architecture
• 06SP_EDS-509-00
Architecture
• 06SP_EDS-509-00
• Semester the course was created
(year/term)
Architecture
• 06SP_EDS-509-00
• Subject (this will yield the Department as
well as the School)
Architecture
• 06SP_EDS-509-00
• Course
Architecture
• 06SP_EDS-509-00
• Section
Architecture
• PHP server side scripting well-suited for
Web development
• SQL Server database
• Access database (eReserves)
• Web form for data entry
Components
D2L
Nightly script
synchronizes
Web Form
Web Form
• Filters on each of the data fields
• Searchable
• Easily enter new data
• Easily change existing data
Data Diagram
_Roles
PK
_Schools
Role_ID
PK
Role_name
School_ID
School_Name
_Links
PK
Link_ID
_Categories
Link
Link_Name
PK
_Librarians
PK
Category_ID
Category_Name
Category_Order
Is_Tab
Librarian_ID
Librarian_FirstName
Librarian_LastName
_Subjects
PK
_Departments
Subject_ID
PK
Subject_Name
_Liaisons
FK2
FK1
Department_ID
Department_Name
_Academics
PK,FK2
PK,FK1
PK,FK3
Librarian_ID
Department_ID
_RolesLinks
FK1,U1
FK4,U1
FK3,U1
FK6,U1
FK2,U1
FK5,U1
U1
U1
Category_ID
Role_ID
Link_ID
Subject_ID
Department_ID
School_ID
Section_ID
Course_ID
School_ID
Department_ID
Subject_ID
Link
Link
• http://its.monmouth.edu/web_factory/wsav
oth/mylibrary/mylibrary.php?RoleId={RoleI
d}&OrgUnitName={OrgUnitName}&OrgUni
tCode={OrgUnitCode}
Link
Variables being used:
– {RoleId} – differentiate Instructor/Student
– {OrgUnitCode} – parse this for:
•
•
•
•
Semester
Subject/Department/School
Course
Section
– {OrgUnitName} – not being processed
SQL Code
$query = "
select
rl.category_id,
rl.role_id,
rl.link_id,
rl.subject_id,
rl.department_id,
rl.school_id,
l.link_id,
l.link,
l.link_name,
c.category_order
from
_roleslinks rl left outer join
_links l on
l.link_id = rl.link_id left outer join
_categories c on
c.category_id = rl.category_id
where
(rl.school_id = '".$schoolID."' or rl.school_id = 'ALL')
and (rl.department_id = '".$departmentID."' or rl.department_id = 'ALL')
and (rl.subject_id = '".$subjectCode."' or rl.subject_id = 'ALL')
and (rl.course_id = '".$courseCode."' or rl.course_id = 'ALL')
and (rl.section_id = '".$sectionCode."' or rl.section_id = 'ALL')
and (rl.role_id = ".$roleId." or rl.role_id = 0)
order by c.category_order;";
Lessons Learned
• Importance of orientating Librarians to concept
of linking to existing library web pages (i.e., “link
server”) not creating new pages
• Librarians’ role is to make and maintain
connections between existing Library web
pages and related courses, subjects,
departments, etc. using a custom web form
• eReserve information will be automatically
integrated into the MULibrary page (no
additional work required)
Future at MU
• ITS will finalize requirements needed for
the data input web form
• Library will continue to identify and
develop library web pages for resources
at the department and course level
• Library staff will continue to liaise with
faculty to develop eReserves and Subject
Guides
The End
Thank You!
Leave Blank for MU
Note: The slides that follow are “screen
shots” of MULibrary that will only be shown if
Internet access is not available.
A hyperlink from the “Demonstration”
slide will link to the next slide automatically.
MULibrary – Main
Library Services
Research Help
Library Account
eReserves
Find Articles
Find Books
Subject Guides
Websites