Heritage and MLE/VLEs
Increasingly, many institutions are implementing Managed Learning Environments (MLEs) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs).
The Heritage Library Management System can be used as a component in a MLE or VLE system but it not currently designed as a controlling gateway to multiple other systems. This is in part because the process of control should be handled by the MLE/VLE and not the library management system, which can be considered more as a contributor rather than a controlling element. Typically search requests are passed through the MLE/VLE to Heritage Online and results are then returned to the MLE/VLE for display.
If Heritage is not to be used as the primary search environment for material accessed via the MLE/VLE system, then it is possible to periodically export the Heritage catalogue in XML for indexing by the MLE/VLE system. However it is also very straightforward to use Heritage to catalogue not just physical items but also digital ones such as Webpages, including deep-linked or reviewed Websites. Reading lists can be created in a similar manner. OPAC searches can then show a mixture of physical and digital items.
Heritage Online is ideally suited to linking to a VLE because it supports the use of PURLs (Persistent URLs) for saving searches rather than pre-defined lists in other parts of a VLE. It provides a fast and powerful search facility which can be used as a central component in any learning environment.
We would not expect to provide a single solution to MLE/VLE issues but can offer consultancy to assist in the integration of Heritage with other systems. The following links give further information in the form of presentations or reports about using Heritage as part of a VLE:
Using Heritage as part of a VLE: presentation to JISC West Midlands, March 2003. This is a web packaged Powerpoint presentation with notes which may require Internet Explorer 5 or above.
Implementing a VLE at Kidderminster College: a report by Mahendra Mahey of JISC West Midlands, Autumn 2002. Please note that this is a zip file which will extract to a Word document. Also there is pricing information included in the report which may be out of date or not applicable to all types of institutions.
Joined up Linking: various presentations given by Paul Chapman of Cambridge Regional College about using Heritage as part of a VLE. These are Powerpoint presentations which may require Powerpoint to be installed on your computer in order to view them.