lauren's library blog

Thomas Crichlow, web developer and content manager & Debra Hanken Kurtz, head, digital projects, and two others (I missed their names, but they are in reference and instruction!)

In all honesty, I attended this session expecting to know everything that would be discussed, but I had such a positive experience in a similar situation with the Web 2.0 in the Class session, I figured I’d give it a go. It was a good session to attend… I met a Twitter friend! It was also good to hear arguments for a library toolbar and embedded librarians in Blackboard. It finally pushed me over the edge to join Connotea, too.

• LibX browser plug in. Originally developed at Vtech, Duke adapted for their libararies. Results shown in Worldcat local. Can use Boolean searching. Makes it easy to access a number if library websites. Incorporates Coins (without separate install). It didn’t work in the demo, but will incorporate catalog link into Amazon search results. Includes right-click button that will search catalog for the keword, etc, that you right click on.
• Demoed iGoogle & Google Gadgets. Pull library catalog search as a widget, Library blog feed, keep a list of relevant links. Pointed out that you can share gadgets with friends. Showed how you can create your own gadget.
• Demoed Connotea. For some reason I’ve been dragging my feet in using this one for years! I’ve been hearing enough about it lately that I think it’s about time I create an account. Use a specific tag for a class so that a professor can use the RSS feed in their Blackboard course. I think there’s room here for the portals… between the connotea, new books, del.icio.us feed, you could keep populating with new scholarly information throughout the semester.
• Talked about library’s involvement in Blackboard. The speaker acknowledged that Blackboard might not be the best tool, but conceded that this is what most faculty use and students are familiar with it. Duke formed a group of librarians interested in working with faculty in Blackboard. They were added as course builders to some specific courses. Have an “ask a librarian” link in every Blackboard course. “Library Links” are added as a customized page within courses that requested them. Looks a lot like a research guide. Can pull in google gadget, maps, etc. Time intensive and they’re using assessment to make sure it is useful for students and faculty.

Related posts:

1. Tools for Blended Learning
2. Does library instruction matters to students?
3. Teaching Librarians About Teaching
4. wikis as training tools!
5. playing with library instruction