Investigating the library resource needs of instructors who have adopted Blackboard at the University of Otago

Abstract

This research focuses on instructors' provision for their students of hypertext links to library collections and services from within their Blackboard courses, at the University of Otago. A qualitative methodology, using semi structured interviews was employed to elicit the perceptions, experiences, expectations, barriers and possible solutions of instructors. The study found that linking to library resources from within Blackboard was relatively uncommon despite the frequency of linking to non library resources. Although Blackboard was widely used, the potential of many of its features were not being realised and Blackboard was commonly perceived as a separate tool from the library. Further impediments to linking include lack of awareness of the potential for linking and lack of time available to explore this potential. Communication, collaboration, and training were identified as potential solutions to these barriers. Resources instructors most wanted to link to include the library homepage, catalogue, electronic journals and databases