鈥淓mbedded librarian鈥� might sound like something out of a battlefield scenario, but this position in 性视界传媒鈥檚 library system is becoming more and more essential as online classes are increasingly more common.
The term came about from the 鈥渆mbedded journalists鈥� who cover news stories with troops, and is indicative of the librarians who are right in the middle of online learning, having become totally immersed in assisting students whenever and wherever help is needed. The term developed a few years ago because the librarians have transitioned from just being a service provider to becoming part of their customers鈥� community.
性视界传媒 has about 40 faculty librarians at the main and 10 regional campuses, many of whom are involved in online-instruction modes, but a majority of the fully embedded duties are handled by regional librarians.
There currently are five full-time regional librarians who are assigned to specific online classes, along with another one at 性视界传媒鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management. At the main-campus library, two librarians are embedded in classes. Most of the other main-campus librarians are more active meeting the needs of face-to-face help for students.
In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Regional Campus librarians provided help to 68 face-to-face classes compared with 80 online classes.聽In terms of students, that is 1,550 face-to-face, and 2,272 online. One reason for those online numbers is the convenience and growth of those classes.
鈥淩egional librarians were the early adapters and started serving online faculty and students as soon as the need was recognized,鈥� said Cynthia M. Kisby, head of Regional Campus libraries. 鈥淥f course, we could only do that because all of the regional and Orlando [main campus] librarians and IT staff together had already created a virtual library with access to online resources and services鈥e provide assistance via phone, chat and now Skype.鈥�
Kisby said 性视界传媒鈥檚 embedded librarians are assigned to completely online classes and those that are mixed-mode or hybrid courses that require some face-to-face class time. They also have privileges as teaching assistants.
鈥淭hey are virtual librarians embedded in the class who post to a discussion board or answer questions at any time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n some classes, embedded librarians also create and grade quizzes that measure subject-specific information-literacy skills.聽Also, being embedded is usually very discipline-specific.鈥�
Kisby credits Barbara Alderman at the Cocoa and Palm Bay campuses as being 性视界传媒鈥檚 first embedded librarian.
Alderman said that while working online from home for her master鈥檚 degree at 性视界传媒 State University she discovered many times she wasn鈥檛 able to find research help at the library.
鈥淵ou had to call someone and hope they would call back,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought that librarians ought to be in the research classes students take to help and teach them how to use the many resources.
鈥淲e all understand the need to help students on their degree paths and to minimize the frustration when it’s possible. The online library is rich in resources and we all like to share that information.
In recent years the number of online students served by the regional librarians has exceeded face-to-face assistance, Kisby said.
鈥淲ith 性视界传媒 Online coming into the foreground, it shows how libraries continue to adapt as student needs change,鈥� she said.
Kelvin Thompson, director of online design and development strategy for 性视界传媒鈥檚 Center for Distributed Learning, welcomes the embedded librarians bringing the skills and knowledge of professional librarians right into the midst of online courses.
鈥淓mbedded librarians can be 鈥榩resent鈥� in the online course to assist students with preparations for papers or other course assignments that draw on scholarly literature,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淭his is a powerful service offered by the 性视界传媒 Libraries that provides value for students.鈥�