The document provides tips for embedded librarians using learning management systems. It recommends targeting introductory courses with research components, creating discussion forums for student questions, and gaining instructor-level access to courses. Librarians should introduce themselves, post ready-made content to generate discussion, encourage students to post research topics and resources, and check forums multiple times daily to respond quickly to students. Librarians should be clear about their availability and link to existing library resources from within the learning management system.

1. Embedded Librarian Tips for
Learning Management Systems
 Target introductory and core courses that involve a research component.
 Create a discussion forum where students can ask questions. Encourage this instead
of email – all students can learn from one another.
 Work with your IT department to gain TA or instructor-level access to courses in the
learning management system. Some institutions create a “librarian” role for their
LMS.
 Identify one or two librarians that can serve as “the face” for the course to add a
more personal touch. However, also get a generic login account created so that all
librarians can provide help, if needed.
 Post a welcome message at the beginning of the course to introduce yourself to
students. Be informal. But also tell students about all the things you can help them
with.
 Brainstorm “ready-to-go” posts to add to the LMS to generate discussion (e.g., Using
Google Scholar, Evaluating Websites, How to Identify a Peer-Reviewed Journal).
 Work with the professor to encourage students to post to the discussion forum. For
research papers, students could post their topics, search terms, and resources used.
The librarian could then provide suggestions.
 Check your courses multiple times per day to respond to student questions. Set up
email notification, if possible.
 Be upfront about your time commitment with the students: Post something like: “I’ll
check this discussion forum 3 times per day during the week. If you need help
during the weekend, call the library or chat with us online…”
 Don’t reinvent the wheel! Link out from the LMS to existing content on the library
website such as topic guides (e.g., Libguides), tutorials, etc.
 Emphasize the various forms of research help available to students: in-person
consultations, phone, email, IM.
Created by Joe Hardenbrook, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, June 2012