Tag Archives: CourseReserves

Reminder: new platform for Course Reserves

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Course Reserves, both print and electronic, are now managed through the Leganto platform, which integrates with both the library catalog and Blackboard to streamline Course Reserves for our faculty and students. The previous course reserves system was retired at the close of the Spring 2021 semester, and as of Summer 2021, all course reserves requests need to be submitted via Leganto.

With Leganto, faculty can collect and organize a wide range of content – from library resources to YouTube videos – in a dynamic and user-friendly add-on to their course.  Advantages to using Leganto include: 

  • Instructors can search the library catalog, link directly to resources within the library catalog or elsewhere, and upload their own documents to the platform 
  • Course materials can be saved and reused in other courses or in future semesters  
  • Lists, once published, are automatically added to Blackboard course navigation so that students have easy access to the materials 

The Libraries has created a guide to help you get started with Leganto. Within this resource guide are links to a Quick Guide, video tutorials, and contact information for library staff should you have questions. 

If you are not yet set up with this platform or wish to learn more, the Libraries is offering training sessions prior to the start of the Fall 2021 semester – you may select a date and register here. 

Reminder: Use Leganto for Course Reserves

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Course Reserves, both print and electronic, are now managed through the Leganto platform, which integrates with both the library catalog and Blackboard to streamline Course Reserves for our faculty and students. The previous course reserves system will be retired at the close of the Spring 2021 semester. Beginning in Summer 2021, all course reserves requests will need to be submitted via Leganto.

With Leganto, faculty can collect and organize a wide range of content – from library resources to YouTube videos – in a dynamic and user-friendly add-on to their course.  Advantages to using Leganto include: 

  • Instructors can search the library catalog, link directly to resources within the library catalog or elsewhere, and upload their own documents to the platform 
  • Course materials can be saved and reused in other courses or in future semesters  
  • Lists, once published, are automatically added to Blackboard course navigation so that students have easy access to the materials 

The Libraries has created a guide to help you get started with Leganto. Within this resource guide are links to a Quick Guide, video tutorials, and contact information for library staff should you have questions.  

Training sessions will be offered throughout the summer – you may select a date and register here. Additionally, from mid-April to mid-May faculty may book individual 30 minute appointments for assistance here.

Learn about our new Course Reserves system – Leganto

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As you may have seen from earlier announcements, the Libraries acquired a new resource list management system in 2020 – Leganto by Ex Libris. Course Reserves, both print and electronic, are now managed through the Leganto platform, which integrates with both the library catalog and Blackboard to streamline Course Reserves for our faculty and students. 

Why Leganto? 

With Leganto, faculty can collect and organize a wide range of content – from library resources to YouTube videos – in a dynamic and user-friendly add-on to their course.  Advantages to using Leganto include:  

  • Instructors can search the library catalog, link directly to resources within the library catalog or elsewhere, and upload their own documents to the platform 
  • Course materials can be saved and reused in other courses or in future semesters  
  • Lists, once published, are automatically added to Blackboard course navigation so that students have easy access to the materials 

What about the Course Reserves system I’m used to? 

While reading lists are still available in Blackboard courses, the previous course reserves system will be retired at the close of the Spring 2021 semester. Beginning in Summer 2021, all course reserves requests will need to be submitted via Leganto. Should you wish to explore the new system, it is available for you to use now as a tool in Blackboard.  

How can I learn more? 

The Libraries has created a new guide to help you get started with Leganto. Within this resource guide, you can find links to a Quick Guide, video tutorials, and contact information for library staff should you have questions.  

Additionally, the Libraries will be hosting virtual drop-in hours over Zoom (attendees must use their Mason e-mail address to join the meeting) for those with questions about Leganto on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, January 19, 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, January 19, 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 20, 1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, January 20, 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 21, 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, January 21, 4 p.m.
  • Friday, January 22, 1 p.m.
  • Friday, January 22, 2 p.m.
  • Monday, January 25, 10 a.m.
  • Monday, January 25, 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, January 27, 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 27, 4 p.m.

New Library Tool Available for Faculty to Manage Course Reading Lists

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In support of Mason’s teaching and learning experience, the Libraries is adding Leganto to the Libraries’ portfolio of technology tools. Leganto, offered by Ex Libris, is a resource list management system that integrates with other Libraries systems as well as Blackboard.

The acquisition of this tool, in conjunction with the university’s expanded virtual environment, marks a strategic shift for the Libraries – moving away from the idea of a physical “course reserves” module to a university-wide reading list management system where the instructor develops a reading list within a Blackboard course, then pushes it to the Libraries for centralized processing.  

With Leganto, faculty can collect a wide range of content – from library resources to YouTube videos – in a dynamic and user-friendly add-on to their course. We anticipate it will make the work of instructional faculty much easier for reading or viewing material for their courses, as well as tracking statistics of what has been read (or marked done) by students. Leganto will enable the Libraries to become more efficient in supplying needed content to courses, and it will provide reliability and consistency for students accessing materials. 

The Libraries is preparing for a soft launch of the Leganto platform in Fall 2020, with a cohort of faculty who will receive training on using the system and who will provide feedback on its integration into their courses. If you would like to be part of this group for Fall 2020, please contact Melanie Bopp, Head of Access Services, at mbopp@gmu.edu or Janna Mattson, Online Learning Coordinator and Instructional Librarian, at jmattso1@gmu.edu.

We expect to fully implement Leganto university-wide in the Spring 2021 semester, at which time our current Course Reserves request system will be retired. We will be exploring a host of additional features to add to Leganto in the spring, such as streamlined purchase requests for faculty, and quick and easy copyright checks.

Course Reserves Update for Fall 2020

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Due to safety concerns during COVID-19 and to ensure accessibility for both our on-campus and online learners, Course Reserves will be an electronic-only service for Fall 2020. Physical materials on course reserve will not be circulating from the Libraries’ information desks. Students that may need a selection from a physical item on reserve may request to have that section scanned and made digitally-available for controlled-student access via Interlibrary Loan. Faculty may request materials be made available digitally for controlled-student access via Course Reserves. All scanning services are subject to copyright limitations. Copyright permission will be sought where feasible in cases where the excerpt falls outside of fair use guidelines.