Embedded Librarian Services

Librarians at BristolCC aim to support every student in all learning environments. We invite instructors teaching online courses and assigning student research projects to request a librarian to "embed" within their course site. Librarians provide research materials and customized information literacy support that target the research needs of your students.

What is it?    

This method of instruction involves embedding a librarian in your online or hybrid class space. It is most effective when there is a specific assignment involved and students are encouraged to work with the librarian.

What does an embedded librarian do?

• Host discussion forums on research topics and assignments
• Provide "just-in-time" research help
• Create course-specific online guides to reinforce important concepts and demonstrate the use of the library’s resources.
• Help students find credible sources and peer reviewed articles through tutorials and the course guide
• Provide information about citations
• Gives librarians access to suggest, promote, and facilitate the inclusion of library resources

How does this help students?

• Research shows that library use increases student success. We bring the “library” to eLearning.
• Embedded librarians are an additional support system for research and citation questions.
• Research anxiety can impair a student’s ability to learn and succeed. Let us help!

What can the Embedded Librarian do in your course?

• Resource List

Librarians can compile a resource list specific for the course that includes links to books, journals, and/or databases from the library, and make that list available on the library guide or in eLearning.

• Online Tutorials

Librarians can create or locate a brief video or screenshot tutorial specific to the course and assignment.

• Book-a-Librarian

Librarians can schedule a research appointment with a student face-to-face or virtually through Blackboard Collaborate. 

• Discussion Boards

Librarians can set up and monitor a discussion board in your eLearning course where students can ask library-related questions or work with students on an assignment.  For instance, the librarian can have students submit sources and have the librarian make comments on their sources and receive a grade. If you want your students to learn particular research skills, we can create an assignment for you. We can also assess the research skills of your students through pre- and post-tests delivered via Blackboard. Please fill out an Embedded Librarian Request Form.

You can find a variety of information literacy/competency-related assignment and assessment examples and tips in the Library Instruction Guide.