Librarian Role in Canvas

The librarian role in Canvas has been designed to allow librarians to be added to the virtual learning space. The title librarians helps students identify that person and know their role in the course. The librarian role was created to help support the embedded librarian program. However, librarians who are not part of the online embedded librarian program can definitely use this role. It can be used for residential, hybrid, blended, or any type of course. The privileges of the role include the same access as an instructor. The only difference is in grading. Librarians are able to view and comment on assignments but they are not able to grade assignments. This is because if librarians are grading assignments than the role shifts from one of embedded or support for the course to one of co-teaching.

If you are interested in having a librarian added to your World Campus course, make sure to email the online learning librarian at victoria@psu.edu. The reason for this is this can surprise librarians who do not know they were added to the course and it is entirely possible that the librarian does not have the time capacity to assist with another course. The other reason is that this should be a well thought out integration to determine what level of support the librarian should provide. In order to fully maximize the role, proactive communication should occur.

If you are interested in having a librarian added to your residential course that is a different workflow. Make sure to contact the librarian ahead of time to express your interest in adding them to the course and go through the same process of proactively communicating in order to maximize the benefits for students and the librarian and instructors time.