Library Resources: A Blackboard Module Template

Downloading and importing the Library Resources Module into your Blackboard course places a Library Module on your course homepage. When students open the module, they will see links to the University Library's article databases, the campus libraries' catalog, and a Google search box. After the module has been added, you may modify it using the second set of instructions below. The first set of instructions explains how to put the module into your course.

Importing the Library Resources Module

1. First save the Library Resources Module template to your desktop.
2. Open a Blackboard course without the Library Resources Module.
3. Click on Manage Course from the Build tab.
4. Choose Import.
5. Click on My Computer.
6. Browse to the tool_template.zip file which you saved to your desktop in step 1.
7. Click Open, and the package of files will import; you will see the import process. This may take a few minutes.
8. Click Return.
9. There will be an import log link on the course content page, which you may delete.
10. Click on the Library Module icon to see the files which you have imported.

Adding customized links to the Library Resources Module

To add a customized link to the Library Resources Module:
1. Open the Library Module from the Build tab.
2. Choose Edit Properties from the menu beside the link you would like to edit.
3. Copy the entire contents in the Content box. (We will use this as a template for our new link.)
4. Click Cancel to leave this file and return to the Library Module page.
5. Under the Add File button, click Create File.
6. Paste the copied contents into the new Content box.
7. Give the file a Title.
8. In the code you just pasted, change the URL to the new place you would like it to link to.
9. Look for the title tags (i.e., <title> and </title> in brackets) and change the words between them to the title you want your students to see for this link.
10. Check the box that says Use HTML.
11. Choose to show or hide this item.
12. Click the Save button. The link you added should now be last on the list of resources in the Library Module. You can move this link anywhere in the list or add headings to organize your links.

Adding Links to Research Resources

What are Persistent Links?
Persistent links are URLs or web addresses that are provided by either the library or the content provider in order to allow users to link directly to the level of content they desire. The library provides persistent links to almost all of its online resources (databases, e-journals, etc.) and the databases or e-journal providers often provide persistent links to individual articles or materials within the database or e-journal.

Linking to databases
To find the persistent link for a specific database or online resource, simply mouse over the database or resource you are interested in and either write down the URL that appears in the lower left hand corner of the screen or right-click on the link and choose Copy Shortcut from the menu. This will copy the URL to be pasted wherever you need.

Linking to articles within databases, e-journals and e-books*
In databases the persistent link is usually on the page for the individual article or book. To see more about how to find persistent links online articles and books check out Add links to online readings.

Using persistent links in other Blackboard tools
Persistent links to databases and online readings can be added to other Blackboard tools. To see more about adding these links to other Blackboard tools check out this short interactive tutorial.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: In order for a persistent link to a Samford Library resource to work from off-campus be sure that the URL contains the Samford address (http://ezproxy.samford.edu). Some databases offer a persistent link or stable URL that does not include the Samford address. JSTOR is a perfect example. It starts its persistent links off with http://www.jstor.org/stable. In order to be accessible from off campus, this URL needs to have this information added to the beginning of the URL - https://ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=. A full persistent link to an article in JSTOR would look like this https://ezproxy.samford.edu/login?url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/1943024.

Many databases automatically put in the Samford information for you, but, when in doubt, add the Samford information to the beginning of the URL or ask a librarian for assistance.