As an admin for our Moodle implementation, one of the facilities I've often wished for is the ability to re-use content on multiple courses without the need to duplicate the files. The optimal solution is of course an integrated or linked CMS/DMS, but we're not there yet.
I'm sure that the following technique is known to others - I wouldn't be so vain as to think that I've discovered something hitherto unknown - but since it kinda feels like that to me - here goes.
I've 'discovered' that I can use the site-files upload area for the purpose. As the admin, I can host resources in that area and teachers on any course can point to them as a Resource\WebLink thus (OK, I still need to let the teachers know the right URL but thats just process):-
http://estudy.wiltscoll.ac.uk/file.php/1/ShareDemo/enrolment.pdf
The 1 in the path denotes the site-file area, which the gatekeeper file.php allows unrestricted access to. Obviously, this area isnt very secure, so one would need to be mindful of the nature of the content hosted by this method, but it looks useful nonetheless.
The method can probably be improved upon. A bona fide course could be adopted solely for hosting content and the appropriate ID number substituted for the 1. If we made the course hidden and made all teachers teachers on that course, and all students students on the course, then file.php would carry out its gatekeeper function and request a login for anybody who tried to access the content external to the Moodle environment.
The approach might even work for other module types too. Not very elegant I grant you, but it feels part way to CMS today...........
Bet I've overlooked something!!!