Embedding Library Search Forms in Blackboard
Over the past few months I’ve been experimenting with ways in which my library can integrate itself into our college course management system, Blackboard. Initially, I started with handouts, PowerPoint presentations, and links to the library website. But lately, I’ve been exploring how we might embed search forms for catalogs and other research databases directly in Blackboard. Here’s what a basic search form for my library catalog looks like in Blackboard:
And here are a few search forms that can be used to search Ebscohost databases:
I’ve been saving the HTML used to create these forms in the Course Management Resources section of the site. In Blackboard, the code can be copied, pasted, and saved into most content areas. Just remember to select “HTML” as the text type instead of “Smart text” or “Plain text” (so that Blackboard will render the code as a form instead of as text.)
