Using Today’s Library as a Teaching ResourceBritt FagerheimCoordinator of Library Services for Regional Campuses and Distance Education britt.fagerheim@usu.edu 435-797-2643

Electronic CollectionsLarge number of electronic journal subscriptions, plus full text access to many more journals via the article databases.Over 150 article databases Increasing numbers of e-books and electronic book collections available from the library

Print CollectionsOnline request form to have print books sent to the student’s homeOnline form to request a scan of any print articles available in the libraryInterlibrary Loan for articles available to all students (articles sent as pdf files)See the Regional Campus and Distance Education Library Services Guide

Online EncyclopediasTwo large encyclopedia collections: Gale Reference Collection and Oxford Reference OnlineCollection of individual, specialized encyclopediasAll encyclopedias are full text

E-booksLibrary catalog contains all print and electronic books owned by the librarySearch for e-books in the library catalog by typing a keyword and choosing e-Books within Type.Coming: Purchase on Demand trial for e-books in psychology and education

Library DatabasesSee full collection of library electronic databasesSelect just a few to point students for class research: PowerLink within BlackboardWill be available within the Add Content link.Get help from your subject librarian

Library DatabasesFind permanent/durable links for sources in the library databases.Also find instructions for linking to a database from within BlackboardCreate links to specific items in the USU Digital Library using shorter URLs than the URL which appears in the menu bar.

LibGuidesA way to collect together select resources for a course or subject with the help of your subject librarianExample: ENGR 1000These can be linked within any page in Blackboard and can either open in a new page or within Blackboard.Example of LibGuide linked within a class.

LibGuides – Research TipsYou can link to one-page tips for accessing library resources and conducting research.You can access these links from the LibGuide for RCDE instructors. Find tips for accessing library resources, plus a guide for citing sources and searching a specific database.Also find a Guide to Research, broken down into specific steps. You can link to specific pages within the guide.

Subject LibrariansYour subject librarian can create a LibGuide for your classList of subject librariansYour subject librarian has expertise in the library resources for the particular discipline and can: create a library research guideprovide research help within Blackboard by responding to students’ questions via e-mail monitor a discussion thread to help students with individual or group research projects.

Library Help “Widgets”Currently, two “widgets” are available within the Blackboard course template. The Library Tips widget lists a selection of LibGuides related to research in general and accessing the library resources. The chat widget enables students to send an instant message to the reference desk and interact with a librarian.These are available in the current Blackboard template and can be added into any page by your instructional designer.

Questions?britt.fagerheim@usu.edu 435-797-2643Subject Librarians: http://library.usu.edu/coldev/subject-librarians.php