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Library Resources via Angel (Fredonia)

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At SUNY Fredonia, ANGEL and library services go hand in hand. Library faculty and staff have worked closely with the ANGEL support team to develop an extensive and varied integration of library features into the course management system. The result of this work allows students to interact with the library in a variety of ways including:

• Catalog search (by title) accessible from ANGEL
• Subject-specific tools included in courses
• Electronic reserve readings published to courses
• Physical reserve information available in courses
• Library Instruction materials and interactive learning elements in courses
• Library instruction assessment survey published to courses

In ANGEL, a ‘nugget’ is an html-based tool that can be included in courses, groups and the ANGEL home page. The catalog title search nugget can be added to a SUNY Fredonia student’s home page or on a course resources tab to allow students quick access to the Reed Library online catalog. The student enters the title in ANGEL and the results display directly. Systems Librarian Kathleen Sacco worked with ANGEL administrator Janet Mayer to create subject-specific nuggets for each discipline. Each nugget includes a search box for Central Search (360 Search) in relevant databases, a link to the existing subject specific research guide and a link to general reference information. When something changes, the nugget can be modified in one location and upon saving, updates to the most recent version in each course that contains it.

Another ANGEL tool in use is the content repository. The content repository allows for content to be added to one area and published via link to courses. Reed Library circulation staff add scanned electronic reserve readings to their central repository and then publish them to courses each semester. Library staff have System Editor rights in ANGEL to allow them to access all courses so they can place items in courses where electronic reserves were requested. SUNY Fredonia creates course spaces for all courses, regardless of faculty's use of ANGEL. This means that the library can give students access to reserve materials even if the faculty member does not use ANGEL for their course. Links to the catalog record for specific physical reserve materials such as books and videos are also published to courses so students can check the availability of these items. The reserve content is added with expiration dates so it is not accessible to students after the course ends. Future development includes the creation of reports to track student use of reserve readings.

The Reference and Instruction Faculty also use their own ANGEL repository to publish an assessment survey for instructional courses. The use of a survey that is linked back to a repository allows them to collect data from all courses into one location. The library faculty also add interactive learning content to ANGEL courses supplementing their instructional sessions. Examples include the use of discussion boards, wikis, links, study guides and other resources.

Ultimately, these innovations would not be possible without a flexible CMS and good working relationships between the ANGEL team and library faculty and staff. The innovations not only extend SUNY Fredonia’s investment in learning management technology, but also increase access to library services such as reserve readings, research subject guides and online databases.