\u201cEmbedded librarian\u201d might sound like something out of a battlefield scenario, but this position in UCF\u2019s library system is becoming more and more essential as online classes are increasingly more common.<\/p>\n
The term came about from the \u201cembedded journalists\u201d 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\u2019 community.<\/p>\n
UCF 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.<\/p>\n
There currently are five full-time regional librarians who are assigned to specific online classes, along with another one at UCF\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Regional Campus librarians provided help to 68 face-to-face classes compared with 80 online classes.\u00a0In 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegional librarians were the early adapters and started serving online faculty and students as soon as the need was recognized,\u201d said Cynthia M. Kisby, head of Regional Campus libraries. \u201cOf 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\u2026We provide assistance via phone, chat and now Skype.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kisby said UCF\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are virtual librarians embedded in the class who post to a discussion board or answer questions at any time,\u201d she said. \u201cIn some classes, embedded librarians also create and grade quizzes that measure subject-specific information-literacy skills.\u00a0Also, being embedded is usually very discipline-specific.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kisby credits Barbara Alderman at the Cocoa and Palm Bay campuses as being UCF\u2019s first embedded librarian.<\/p>\n
Alderman said that while working online from home for her master\u2019s degree at Florida State University she discovered many times she wasn\u2019t able to find research help at the library.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had to call someone and hope they would call back,\u201d she said. \u201cI thought that librarians ought to be in the research classes students take to help and teach them how to use the many resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
In recent years the number of online students served by the regional librarians has exceeded face-to-face assistance, Kisby said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith UCF Online coming into the foreground, it shows how libraries continue to adapt as student needs change,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kelvin Thompson, director of online design and development strategy for UCF\u2019s Center for Distributed Learning, welcomes the embedded librarians bringing the skills and knowledge of professional librarians right into the midst of online courses.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmbedded librarians can be \u2018present\u2019 in the online course to assist students with preparations for papers or other course assignments that draw on scholarly literature,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cThis is a powerful service offered by the UCF Libraries that provides value for students.\u201d<\/p>\n
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