FACULTY: Embed a Librarian

There is a range of collaboration opportunities possible:

Embedded librarians can:

• Introduce themselves to students as their personal class librarian 
• Answer student questions via discussion board and email
• Embed links and resources to help students achieve course objectives
• Create announcements about upcoming library programs or timely resources
• Join or hold virtual office hours and attend class WebEx meetings 
• Teach a synchronous online class session
• Create and grade assignments/quizzes
• Embed and administer the library's misinformation tutorial, "Fighting the COVID-19 Infodemic: Four Moves to Find Reliable Sources"

The benefits of embedding a librarian in D2L include:

• Supplement face-to-face library instruction
• Reach distance learners more effectively
• Lower barriers to student / librarian communication
• Lessen library anxiety and increase confidence in research skills
• Connections with librarians correlate to student success measures
• Increase student awareness and use of library resources
• Recommended resources and research tips provided at the point of need
• Help instructors review assignments and library resources

To get started with embedding a librarian, fill out the online course support request form:

Consider:

• ​Lead time needed for a librarian to develop content for your class.

• Teaching Assistant vs Faculty role:

  • Librarians with a Teaching Assistant role don't see students' grades. While TAs can add content, they are limited in the kinds of content they can create (like discussion boards and quizzes). 

  • Librarians with a Faculty role have all the same abilities as the teaching faculty, and can add any type of content, including discussion boards and quizzes. Librarians have a lot more flexibility in a Faculty role and will always safeguard your students' privacy, so please add Librarians as Faculty to your D2L course. 

After discussing your class needs with a librarian, add them to your D2L page. This page in VTAC support explains how: https://vtac.lonestar.edu/help/a136

1. Log in to VTAC Support area in D2L

2. In the Self-Service column, under User Access, select ‘Add a User to Your Section.’ Select term, course, and access level. 

3. Enter username or employee ID# of librarian to search and select their name.

The librarian should see your course once they've logged in to their D2L page.