JISC

The University of Ulster has recently collaborated with WebCT, Talis and Athens on a VLE - Library integration pilot. This project will continue the work of the successful pilot to accelerate the institutional implementation of integrated VLE and library systems to provide users with contextual links and seamless access to appropriate online resources and services. It will assess the impact of such added value services on users, academic and library business processes. It will also develop and test a more scalable system independent, interoperable integration methodology. These two project strands thereby address two of the key DiVLE programme themes; 

1) Learning and Teaching Implementation Pilots
2) Practical Exploration of Linking Digital Libraries and VLEs

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this project is to further develop and implement a working model upon which to fully integrate VLE and library systems to provide users with personalised contextual linkage to library resources and services along with seamless access to protected resources. The specific objectives, under each project strand, are; 

1) To fully assess the impact of an institution wide VLE-library system integration on library business processes and the user experience 

2) To further develop technical integration methods to facilitate better interoperability between diverse systems and platforms and across institutions.

Project Methodology

To facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the impact of institutional VLE-Library system integration the project will scale up and integrate the Library’s current operations associated with the acquisition, input, publication and review of online reading lists within normal business processes. Project staff will be employed to address the associated operational and management issues for the Library and assist with rapid build up of the reading list database, appropriately linked to digital content. User education and support material to provide appropriate guidance for users accessing digital educational resources directly from online reading lists will also be developed. 

To facilitate open integration between VLE and library systems the project will explore the use of extensions to the IMS Content Packaging, Enterprise and Metadata schemas to effectively de-couple library integration from the course development process.

Implications/ Deliverables/ Stakeholders

This project will examine the implications and impact for academic libraries of the integration of VLE and library systems Dissemination of findings to the wider HE and FE community will be a key feature of this project. A detailed case study highlighting experiences gained and the implications stakeholders (students, academic and library staff) arising from the project will be produced. The project team will also present findings at relevant conferences and workshops. Models of best practice for the provision of flexible user education and support, and seamless authentication, will be developed. A prototype working system demonstrating VLE-Library system interoperability using extended IMS specifications will be implemented and used as a basis for recommendation to IMS for future developments to benefit institutions planning to integrate their library integration across the spectrum HE.