Faculty who add the new "ISU Library Resources" tab to their Canvas sections give their students seamless access to library resources. The tab includes links to discipline-specific research guides, relevant databases and a librarian contact. Step-by-step instructions for enabling this function are in the Embed Library Guides website in Canvas. Or faculty may follow this breadcrumb: Canvas> Help> MyLibrary> Instructors for additional information about this and other instructional support available from the library.
Jeff Kushkowski, instruction and information services coordinator for University Library, said the library worked closely with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and IT services staff to create the platform for embedding library resources into Canvas. Work started during spring semester and succeeded because of close collaboration among the three units, he said.
Benefits to faculty
The library resources tab for each course page is customized for a department, relieving faculty members of the need to search for relevant library resources. Department codes in course titles from the registrar have been mapped to disciplinary research guides created by librarians who are subject experts. When faculty enable the tab for a course, it is populated with the appropriate research guides and library databases for that discipline. Faculty also may contact their liaison librarian to have a custom class page created for a specific course.
Benefits to students
Students can connect to the library directly from within Canvas. The embedded resources are customized, so students (and teachers) can be confident that the resources listed will be relevant for their class assignments. Students also can contact a librarian, for example to ask a question or set up a research appointment.
Technical questions about the library resources tab may be directed to librarian Rano Marupova. Questions about the library's instructional support for courses can be directed to Kushkowski.
