Integrating LibGuides and e-Reserves into Blackboard -- The LibApps LTI Tool

The LibApps LTI Tool facilitates integration of LibGuides and/or LibGuides e-Reserves material into Blackboard courses in two ways:

1. Manual Integration – individual classroom faculty can integrate guides, pages, boxes, or e-Reserves courses manually anywhere in their shell, in the same way that they are able to integrate YouTube videos, etc.;
2. “Automagic” – where, based on a match between course metadata and metadata that has been added to guides and/or e-Reserves courses in LibApps, a guide or course is automatically populated into a given shell. Parameter matching is "stepped": Automagic first looks for a guide/e-Reserves course specific to a course section; if it doesn’t find one, it looks for a guide/course specific to the course; if it doesn’t find one, it looks for a guide/course specific to the discipline; if it doesn’t find one, it uses a default guide with general library information.

With Automagic, there are two options for how the content is presented:

1. The guide/course appears within the shell visually the same way that it appears in an internet browser;
2. A customized library page displays links to guides/courses (which will open within the shell), along with additional content such as profiles of the disciplinary faculty, a search widget, a LibChat widget, library hours, etc.

Springshare customers can choose to implement manual integration, Automagic integration, or both.

• Provides library resources/services/support that is most relevant to the teaching and learning in a given course or section
• Brings the course E-Reserve readings directly into the course
• Increases visibility for library resources/services; increases usage of subscription materials
• More consistent student experience and means of access to resources/services across courses
• Better support for increasing numbers of online/hybrid courses
• Could expand faculty use of the E-Reserves service, which may result in better copyright compliance
• Embedding some elements (such as brief videos), could allow easy student access to material for flipped classroom technique – allowing for an increase in instructional time during face-to-face classes

LibGuides are online guides that libraries use to provide links to information sources, research help and help using library tools and services, information about library collections, and a whole host of other things. They are sometimes focused on specific student assignments, courses, or topics.

e-Reserves "courses" are collections of required readings curated by instructors for students in their classes. They are organized by course, and typically placed behind a password login to provide access only for enrolled students.

Both of these platforms are products from the vendor Springshare, who offers additional products as well. All Springshare products are managed via the LibApps interface.

More information from Springshare:     LibGuides     e-Reserves

To learn more about how Springshare platforms are used at your institution, contact your library and ask to speak with the LibApps admin(s) for your campus.