Extending Our Reach: Integrating Librarians and Library Resources into Canvas

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Educational Technology
• Higher Education

Background:

• Traditional library access methods can be fragmented and not seamlessly integrated into students' primary learning environments.
• Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas are central to student academic workflows, presenting an opportunity for integrated resource delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a strategy for coordinated library access for all students within the Canvas LMS.
• To enhance student engagement with and access to library resources through a familiar digital platform.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between librarians and campus information technology services to establish a dedicated Librarian role within Canvas.
• Utilization of Springshare's LibApps Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) to embed research guides directly into Canvas.
• Leveraging course metadata to automatically map relevant research guides to specific subjects and courses.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of library services and research guides into the Canvas LMS environment.
• Early indications suggest a significant impact on how students discover and access library resources.
• The development of a specialized Librarian role within the LMS facilitates targeted support.

Conclusions:

• Integrating library resources into the Canvas LMS through specialized roles and embedded guides can improve student access.
• This approach streamlines the discovery of research support, aligning library services with student academic activities.
• Ongoing evaluation is crucial to fully understand the long-term effects on resource utilization and student success.