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University Library

Adding the Library to your Canvas Course

Add a research guide!

The Library's research guides make it easy to link to basic information that's applicable to many classes.

screenshot of a library guide

The library has topic guides to help students complete essential tasks like cite their sources or create a presentation.

Some popular topic guides for your students:

The Library also has subject guides for your discipline that provides tips to finding the best information for subject research.

Find your discipline's research guides in the Library's index.

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact your subject librarian. We're happy to create new guides for specific tasks, subjects, or courses!

How to add a research guide

How to add a research guide to your Canvas site:

  1. Find the guide that works best for your course. Browse currently published guides in the Library's index, or contact your subject librarian for a course guide
  2. Grab the guide's URL. Copy the URL for the guide using the URL at the top of the browser
  3. Add the guide's URL to your Canvas site. Add the URL to the appropriate section of your Canvas site.
    1. Module Level
      1. From an existing module, click the "+" button
      2. Add "External URL"
      3. Paste in the URL of the research guide
      4. Select "Load in New Tab"
      5. Click "Add Item"
    2. Page Level
      1. From an existing module, click the "+" button
      2. Add "Content Page"
      3. Select"[New Page]" and fill out the "Page Name"
      4. Click "Add Item"
      5. Once the page is set up, click on the page, then click on "Edit"
      6. Paste in the title of the research guide, click the "Link to URL" icon, paste in the URL, then click "Update Link"
      7. Click "Save"

Tip: Always test your links after creating them. It is a best practice to periodically check links for potential website/URL updates.

Tips for using research guides

Adding a research guide is one thing, having students use it is another!

We recommend you build time in the class to talk about the research guide, and why it might be important for their course. Some recommended tactics are:

  • Sell students on the research guide by explaining as well as their purpose, value, and relevance to the course. Preview and promote the resources in the guide, and help students navigate the guide by letting them explore key resources in class.
  • Teach research strategies. Chances are your students are not familiar with how databases or academic publications are structured, so take a little class time for them to explore. Have them identify “road signs” like subject headings, abstracts, and author affiliations. Why send them into foreign territory without a map? If you don't feel comfortable doing this, schedule a library instruction session with your subject librarian.