Follett Destiny Expands Chromebook Integration, Adds SAML and LTI Support

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/25/16

Follett has updated its flagship library management system. The latest release of Destiny includes a revamped interface; simpler access to digital resources, including open educational resources; and new kinds of integration with some Google Chromebook models.

Version 14 adds support for integration standards IMS' Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) and Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), both of which facilitate single-sign-on with other resources. The integration enables students to access the school's library catalog from within their courses or student portals. Teachers will be able to include links to specific digital resources in their class assignments or discussion forums, and students will be able to go to the resource without additional logins.

The updated interface includes branding intended to be more student-friendly. For example, the product's previous services, universal search, BryteWave K-12 and Follett Shelf, are now known as "Destiny Discover," which will serve as the interface through which students can search for and get to library resources.

Destiny Discover also provides access to OER. The company has joined the U.S. Department of Education's #GoOpen initiative, a campaign to encourage the transition to openly licensed educational materials. Teachers will be able to locate digital resources available via ED's Learning Registry, a metadata system to help users discover OER content online.

A Google Chrome extension allows Destiny resources to appear next to Google search results when the user is searching through a Chrome browser, which, according to the company, will promote the use of school resources.

The formerly named BryteWave K-12 app for Chromebook lets students get to Destiny Discover and Follett e-books through a browser and then read them offline. The Chromebook models that support that functionality are the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the Acer Chromebook R 11 and the Google Chromebook Pixel.

Among the customers that have checked out the new release is Clear Creek Independent School District in Texas. There, the updated software will enable students to "quickly and efficiently access Destiny since it is now tied to our learning management system with no separate log in," said Suzy Ferrell, director of library media services, in a press release. "Partnering with our curriculum teams, we will be able to help bring the resources from our libraries to students and teachers into their online learning environments."

Gregory Odell, e-learning specialist at Hall County Schools in Gainesville, GA noted the ability to embed digital content housed in Destiny into courses accessible through the district's learning management system. "Adding the LTI capability to Destiny opens up many opportunities for our district to promote the digital assets available in Destiny via our one-stop-shop LMS," Odell said.