TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
  • 1 Library levels and permissions
  • 2 How linked resources work
  • 3 Supported content types
  • 4 Adding content to the Library
    • 4.1 Creating content directly in the Library
    • 4.2 Moving course content into the Library
  • 5 Searching for content
    • 5.1 Search criteria
    • 5.2 Filter options
  • 6 Adding a Library resource to a course
  • 7 Creating your own copy of a resource
  • 8 Publishing and metadata
    • 8.1 Basic information
    • 8.2 Advanced options
    • 8.3 Creative Commons licensing
  • 9 Co-authors
  • 10 Your Collection

Introduction

The Library in itslearning is a shared resource hub for managing, finding, and sharing educational content. It serves as a central repository where you maintain a single version of your content and reuse it across multiple courses — saving time and keeping your materials consistent.

1 Library levels and permissions

The itslearning Library is organised into four levels. The ability to search and add content at each level depends on permissions set by your system administrator.

2 How linked resources work

The Library acts as a central repository for your teaching materials. When you store a resource in the Library and add it to one or more courses, each course uses the same Library resource — not an independent copy. This means you only need to maintain one version of your content.

If you edit the Library resource — for example, correcting a spelling error, updating instructions, or adding new content — the change is automatically reflected in every course that uses it. You do not need to open each course individually to make the same edit.

This linked approach is particularly useful in the following scenarios:

3 Supported content types

The following content types can be created in, or moved into, the Library:

4 Adding content to the Library

There are two ways to add content to the Library: creating it directly in the Library, or moving existing course content into the Library. In addition, content appears in your collection automatically when another teacher adds you as a co-author (see 9 Co-authors).

4.1 Creating content directly in the Library

1. Open the Library.
2. Click the Add resources button in the upper right-hand corner.
3. Select the tool (or app) you want to use to create the content.
4. Complete the resource content.
5. Publish the resource and add metadata (see 8 Publishing and metadata).

Once you have created the content, you can share it with other teachers or add it to a course by searching through the Library. The resource is now stored in the Library and any course that uses it will receive updates automatically (see 2 How linked resources work).

4.2 Moving course content into the Library

If you have already created content in a course that you want to reuse elsewhere, you can move it into the Library. Once moved, the resource becomes a linked Library resource — edits you make in the Library are reflected in all courses that use it.

To move an existing resource from a course into the Library:

1. Go to the individual resource page within your course.
2. Click the extended menu (three dots).
3. Select Add to Library.

5 Searching for content

You can search for content in the Library or from the Add page of a course. To use content with students, it must first be added to a course.

5.1 Search criteria

To search, enter at least 3 characters in the keyword field. When searching from the planner, there must be at least 1 learning objective connected to the plan.

A keyword search matches content where the search term appears in any of the following fields:

5.2 Filter options

You can use filters to narrow results and bring the best matches to the top. Content that does not fully match the applied filters is shown under the heading These results might also be interesting.

6 Adding a Library resource to a course

You can add resources from the Library to your courses, plans, or personal collection. When you add a resource to a course, it remains linked to the Library version (see 2 How linked resources work).

1. Open the Library and type a keyword into the search field (minimum 3 characters), then press Enter.
   
2. Select a resource from the search results. A dialog opens with the following options: View resource, Add to…, and Mark as favourite.
   
3. Click Add to… and select one of the following options:
   

7 Creating your own copy of a resource

By default, Library resources are linked — edits to the Library version update all courses that use it (see 2 How linked resources work). If you need a version that you can modify independently without affecting other courses, you can create your own copy.

To create your own copy:

1. Open the Library resource within a course.
2. Click the cog icon.
3. Select Create own copy.

8 Publishing and metadata

When you publish content in the Library, you are asked to provide metadata to help other teachers find your resource.

8.1 Basic information

As a minimum, you must provide the following when publishing:

8.2 Advanced options

Click Show advanced options to access additional metadata fields:

Click Publish to share the resource with the selected audience.

8.3 Creative Commons licensing

Content shared with the itslearning Community is published under the following Creative Commons licence:

9 Co-authors

As part of the sharing settings of a resource, you can add another teacher as a co-author. When someone adds you as a co-author, the resource automatically appears in your collection.

10 Your Collection

Your Collection is accessible from the Library menu bar and contains your personal Library content.

Your Collection is divided into the following sections: