An overview of how Leeds Beckett University has embedded Library services within Blackboard Learn. Including: 1) Creating and personalising a Library tab within Blackboard Communities, using HTML Modules, Institutional Roles and custom Building Blocks. 2) Developing a personalised Library Account Building Block to pull information from the Sirsi Dynix Library Management System. 3) Embedding relevant Reading Lists in Blackboard Courses using a custom Resource List Building Block that integrates Blackboard with the REBUS:list Reading List system. 4) Using Google Analytics usage data was to inform further content development.

1. Embedding library services in
Blackboard Learn
B. S. Becker @bsbecker1
A. A. Watson @adlab
Technologies for Learning
Libraries & Learning Innovation
Leeds Beckett University

2. Overview
• Creating and personalising a Library Tab within Blackboard Communities
• Developing a personalised Library Account Building Block.
• Embedding Reading Lists using a custom Resource List Building Block
• Using Analytics data to inform Module development
2

3. Blackboard
Learn 9.1
April 2014
(includes
Communities)
Current University Context
3
~93% of
users, login at
least once
during the
year ~69% of
Modules being
taught use the
VLE
40% of visits
last at least
ten minutes
4 out of 5
users have
downloaded /
used the
Mobile App
Staff:
2,900
Academic:
1,500
Students:
29,000

4. Portal & VLE Timeline
4
Portal VLE
2001 – WebCT Campus Edition
2003 – Sungard HE (Ellucian)
Campus Pipeline
2008 – WebCT VISTA
2010 – Blackboard Learn 9.1
2011 – Blackboard Learn 9.1
2015 – Learn 9.1 April 2014
2004 – Sungard HE (Ellucian)
Luminis

5. Creating and personalising a Library
Tab within Blackboard Communities
5

6. Customised Layout & Design
• Customised & branded login page using HTML/CSS
• A new design template for all HTML and Building Block Communities Modules
• Standard Layout:
6
login page
Action
Service Name
Service Info
Capability
Help

7. Institutional Roles
• Customised tabs include:
8
• Displayed Portal, Tabs and Modules are dependent on Institutional
Roles e.g. (Student, Staff, Admin)
• Customised Institutional Roles: e.g. Distance Learner, Franchise,
Research, Learning Tech

8. 9
Typical Student Layout

9. Customised Modules on Library Tab
10
HTML Modules
Mechanism: Website link
Library Website
Discover (Library Search Engine)
Student Meeting Rooms
University PC Availability
Library Catalogue
Building Block Modules
Mechanism: JSP & BB Data Tables
Library Account
Resource List (Rebus)
InterLibrary Loan Service
Offsite Service Registration
Beckett Books Extra

10. Developing a personalised
Library Account Building Block
11

11. Library Account Building Block
A history…
12
2008 - Data Mash-up from LMS
(Sirsi-Dynix Symphony)
Ref: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/8_6.pdf
2010 - JISC funded JANUS Project.
Developed JANGLE Core connector for
LMS utilising Facebook App as GUI
Ref: https://jiscjanus.wordpress.com/project-team-contacts/
2010 – BB Learn 9.1 Communities
JSP Building Block + PHP Bridge
2013 – JSP incorporated SIRSI API

12. 13
BLACKBOARD LEARN
COMMUNITIES
Student ID
AccountInfo
Custom Building Block:
Library Bridge
Gets content of external PHP page
with GET variable of Student ID
from Blackboard Database
SIRSI API
External PHP Page with
script to use SIRSI API
Looks up student account
information based on
Student ID received from
Blackboard channel
LibraryID
Library Account
Summary as HTML
Displays resulting content in a
Communities Module

13. Account Intermediate loading page Library Account (Catalogue)
14

14. 15

15. Embedding Reading Lists using a custom
Resource List Building Block
16

16. A Custom Resource List Building Block
17
2013 - July Purchased by Library following
funding approval and tender process
2013 - Integration of rebus:list with LMS and
2014 BB Learn
2014 – Semester 1 live launch
400 Courses – majority Level 6
Customised Institutional Roles
Pass-through Mechanism (BB Learn to rebus)
Embedded Course Tool Link

17. Resource List Process (Student)
18
Non-login website link for
Reading List by Course ID

18. Resource List Process (Instructor)
19
Pass-through
Process
User ID
User Type (role)
Course Code
Yes
Yes
No
No
Add/Update/ Delete
Account in Database
Auto-Login and take to
Manage Reading Lists
Updated
Role?
Updated
Course Code?
REBUS List
User
Database

19. Resource List Process (Instructor)
20
Pass-through
Process
User ID
User Type (role)
Course Code
Yes
Add/Update/ Delete
Account in Database
Updated
Role?
REBUS List
User
Database
Create Account
Update Account

20. Resource List Process (Instructor)
21
Pass-through
Process
User ID
User Type (role)
Course Code
Yes
No
No
Auto-Login and take to
Manage Reading Lists
Updated
Role?
Updated
Course Code?
Update Permissions
Pass User to Manage List

21. 22

22. 23
A Variety of Resources can
be displayed – Books,
Journals, Web links,
A variety of resources are
available from the list:
Web Sites
Journal Article
Book
Report
Electronic Resource
Student View

23. 24

24. 25
Manage Resource List
Dashboard
Instructor View

25. Using Analytics data to inform Module
development
26

26. Library Tab Analytics
27
Blackboard Learn
Individual
Community
Modules

27. Library Module Development
28
2013-14
2014-15

28. (10.1%)
(2.3%)
(0.5%)
(3.8%)
0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000
Resources
Subject Support
IT Support
Using the Library
Total Events (Percentage of Tab total)
Google Analytics
29
ga tracking code
added to ‘onClick’
for each button
Semester12014-15

29. Summary
30
Personalised
Content using
Tabs and
Roles
Personalised
Library
Account
Information
Tailored
Reading
Resources in
Courses
Using
Analytics for
further
Development
Embedding
Library
Services
Did it Work?

30. 32 Ref: http://100scopenotes.com/2012/04/02/2012-book-spine-poem-gallery-2/