Survey of library services integrating course management software (WebCT, Blackboard, etc)

[Roy Tennant]

Posted by request on behalf of Alis Whitt, whitta at cofc.edu, please do 
not respond to me. Thanks,
Roy

Begin forwarded message:
>
> Colleagues,
>
> Please excuse the cross-posting.
>
> I am interested in compiling informal data regarding academic library
> services and programs which address institutional use of course
> management software (CMS) such as Blackboard, WebCT, and other systems
> (home grown and otherwise).  The proliferation of CMS systems is evident
> in Blackboard's June 2002 announcement of a record $16.4 million profit.
> These questions are more fully explored in an article by Dr. David Cohen
> -- "Course-Management Software: Where's the Library" (online at
> http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0239.pdf).
>
> My interest is not in the growing presence of CMS systems in the
> classroom per se, but in the effect this revolution is having on the
> common institutional mission of academic libraries.  How do we steer our
> students to the databases and library resources hand-selected according
> to the needs of your students and faculty?
>
> Profit-generating companies such as Blackboard may offer students access
> to selected databases, but these databases are typically dense with
> advertising and frequently rely on keyword spamming in order to generate
> advertising revenue.  Even where students are not led to CMS "learning
> hubs," a recent OCLC white paper concludes that students are twice as
> likely to use search engines than they are the campus library website or
> course-specific websites.  (See "OCLC White Paper on the Information
> Habits of College Students," June 2002, online at
> http://www2.oclc.org/oclc/pdf/printondemand/informationhabits.pdf.)
>
> What steps is your library taking to integrate your services and
> collections with these new products?  I realize this is a broad and
> potentially vague question, but only by casting a wide net will I get
> the information I seek.
>
> Please reply directly to me.  If you are interested seeing the results
> of this inquiry, please indicate this in your reply.  As of this
> Thursday, I will be out of the office until the beginning of September,
> so do not be surprised if you don't hear from me right away.  I will get
> back to you!
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Alisa J. Whitt
> Virtual Reference Services Librarian
> (843) 953-5477
> Library, College of Charleston
> 66 George St.
> Charleston SC 29424
>
>