Linking Your Students to the Library
Your students will get more out of the library if you get more of the library into your class.
Introduction
This workshop is all about making the most direct route to the library and its resources for your students. I've made the assumption that you'd like your students to use the library more than they currently are using it. Sometimes the only link students think they need is: http://www.google.com. You can help them change that attitude by linking your students to the library.
Quick guide to Creating a Link in HTML
<a href="http://www.webpageaddress.com">Descriptive Text for the Link</a>
Quick guide to Copying 'n' Pasting links
- Highlight the text you'd like to copy by scrolling over it.
- Right click on the highlighted text and choose 'copy'
- Go to the document where the web address is needed and right click where you'd like it to be inserted. Choose 'paste'
OR
- Highlight the text...
- <Ctrl>c will copy the text
- <Ctrl>p will paste the text
OR
- Highlight the text...
- Use the menu bar along the top to choose Edit-->Copy
- Use the menu bar along the top to choose Edit-->Paste
Face to Face Library Instruction
The best link to the library will always be a human to human interaction. Bring your class to the library or invite a librarian to your classroom to introduce your students to all the resources they will need. With a little advice, your students can become even more efficient and effective when gathering information for their research projects. Scheduling a class is quick and easy. Just use the link below.
http://lib.colostate.edu/instruction/schedule.html
Library Catalog Record
You've found a specific item in our catalog that you would like your students to use. A direct link to that item's catalog record will take all guesswork out of searching the catalog for your students.
- Search the library catalog for materials
- Look at the "full record" for an individual item
- Copy'n'Paste the "URL for this item"
Research Databases
The right database can make all the difference when doing research, but with so many to choose from, selecting one can be a real hurdle for your students. You can get them directly to the database they need by linking to a "bookmarkable" web address (URL) or provide them with a list of options by subject.
To link to a single database:
- Go the to the Library Home Page
- Click on Research Databases
- Find the database you're interested in pointing your students to, either alphabetically, or by subject list *
- Click on the blue information icon next to the name of the database
- Copy'n'Paste the "Bookmarkable URL"
[Your students can use the databases from on or off campus as long as they have their library PIN number set up.]
*To link to a list of recommended databases by subject:
From the library home page, go to Resources by Subject --> Databases by Subject
Find the subject area you're interested in and Copy'n'Paste the URL.
The URL will look like this: http://lib.colostate.edu/databases/dblist.php?subjectID=33
Full-Text Article
Let's say you've found an article online through one of our databases that you'd like your students to read. Avoid the hassle of downloading it and posting it, and the questions of copyright infringement that come along with it, by pointing your students directly to the article in the database.
Using Persistent URLs:
The databases provided by our vendor EBSCOhost have a "persistent URL" for the articles that are available full-text. (Other database vendors provide this feature, but few make it as obvious, unfortunately.)
Look for this Persistent URL link in the "full record" for the article:
Or, better yet, email the article to yourself and have the persistent link and a correctly formatted citation to include in your online syllabus or WebCT.
Using FindIt:
Step 1: Find a citation with a FindIt button
Step 2: Check to make sure the link is working to the full text
Step 3: Click on Citation information
Step 4: Copy'n'Paste the LONG URL. You can copy the citation from this screen as well, but be careful; the citation may be incomplete.
If this URL is way too long for you, try http://tinyurl.com/ to make it more manageable.
Course Reserves
You’ve put your important readings online via the Libraries’ Electronic Reserve system.
Now, take the guess work out of finding them by providing this link for your students from your course web site or WebCT.
https://er.library.colostate.edu/erez/student
Subject Guide
Subject Librarians spend time putting Research Guides together to help students get started with their research. These may include recommended databases, reference books, web sites and more. To look for a Subject Guide that would work for your students, go to: http://lib.colostate.edu/research/
If you would prefer to have a subject guide tailor made for your class or assignment, you can get in touch with a subject librarian and talk to them about that possibility.
Examples of class specific pathfinders or subject guides can be seen here: http://lib.colostate.edu/instruction/classes/index.html
An example of a web site, custom-made for inclusion in WebCT can be seen here: http://lib.colostate.edu/research/engr/webcttemplate.html
By working with your subject librarian, you can give your students a "one-stop shopping" experience with our library resources.
Online Tutorials
Don’t have time to bring your class to the library for a visit, or are your students telling you they already know how to use the library? Check for yourself by assigning a set of online library tutorials. Have them take the graded quiz and send their results directly to your email! See the link below if you’re interested in tailor making one of these sets of tutorials for your class.
http://lib.colostate.edu/tutorials/
Librarian Contact Info
You know that the library has librarians here to help your students...but do your students know?
From our library's home page click on "Research Assistance" (under the "Services" heading) to find the contact details of your librarian.
From the homepage:
- Under "Services" choose Research Assistance
- The College Liaison Librarian page lets you find your librarian by name, department, college or subject.
- Link your students to this page.
http://lib.colostate.edu/collegeliaisons/
Classroom Locations
Have you scheduled a class in the library with one of those handy subject librarians?
Take the guesswork out of finding the classroom by linking your students to this map.
http://lib.colostate.edu/tour/first/eil.html
Evaluate this Workshop
PLEASE help me evaluate this workshop and my teaching by filling out this online workshop evaluation. Your comments and suggestions are important to me.
Thank you for coming. If you have any questions or need any help with any of the things covered in this workshop, please don't hesitate to contact me at (970) 491-1906, or .