Integrating Library Resources into Desire2Learn Courses

Susan Mee: RIT Demo

Denise Kreiger: Monmouth University Demo

Jonathan Jiras: RIT - Technology Overview

Wendy Savoth: Monmouth University Details

Presenters:Presenters:

Susan MeeRochester 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

1. Student

2. Faculty

3. Distance Learner

Three Views

Summary of Benefits

• Modular, web based application. Resides outside of D2L

• Links to existing systems – pages on web server, IIIreserve 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 KreigerMonmouth University

A University-Wide InitiativeA 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

• 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.

LMS eCampus (D2L) offers an enterprise-wide solution for integrating Library services and resources:

Demonstration

Jonathan JirasRochester 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

Library Website

Typical Academic Library Resources

Library Reserves

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….

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Three Systems to Integrate

Library Reserves

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

The Library Resources Link Server

Library Resources Link Server

Library Reserves

The Library Resources Link Server

Library Resources Link Server

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Library Reserves

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 Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Step One – Pass URL Variables

Library Resources Link Server

cou

rse

nu

mb

er

role

Library Reserves

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Step Two – Get Library Reserves

Library Resources Link Server

cou

rse

nu

mb

er

role list of reserves

Library Reserves

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Step Three – Dynamic Web Page

Library Resources Link Server

cou

rse

nu

mb

er

role list of reserves

DynamicallyGeneratedWeb page

Library Reserves

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Links to Library Reserves

Library Resources Link Server

cou

rse

nu

mb

er

role list of reserves

DynamicallyGeneratedWeb page

links

to re

serv

esLibrary

Reserves

Library Website

Desire2Learn

CMS

Library Resources Link Server

cou

rse

nu

mb

er

role list of reserves

DynamicallyGeneratedWeb page

links

to re

serv

es

Links to Relevant Library Content

links to program, department, or college specific librarian-authoredweb pages

Library Reserves

Possible Future Development

Library Catalog

• 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

- 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 SavothMonmouth 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

PHP scrip

t

Sends

varia

bles

SQL Serve

r

Returns v

alues

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

_Schools

PK School_ID

School_Name

_Academics

PK,FK2 School_IDPK,FK1 Department_IDPK,FK3 Subject_ID

_Subjects

PK Subject_ID

Subject_Name

_Categories

PK Category_ID

Category_Name Category_Order Is_Tab

_Departments

PK Department_ID

Department_Name_Liaisons

FK2 Librarian_IDFK1 Department_ID

_Librarians

PK Librarian_ID

Librarian_FirstName Librarian_LastName

_Links

PK Link_ID

Link Link_Name

_Roles

PK Role_ID

Role_name

_RolesLinks

FK1,U1 Category_IDFK4,U1 Role_IDFK3,U1 Link_IDFK6,U1 Subject_IDFK2,U1 Department_IDFK5,U1 School_IDU1 Section_IDU1 Course_ID

Link

Link

• http://its.monmouth.edu/web_factory/wsavoth/mylibrary/mylibrary.php?RoleId={RoleId}&OrgUnitName={OrgUnitName}&OrgUnitCode={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_orderfrom _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_idwhere (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!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