Transcript Introduction to LibGuides

Introduction to
LibGuides
What is it?
 Web 2.0 application designed for libraries
 Customized web pages
 research guides
 forum for sharing ideas/resources/best
practices
 LibGuides Home Page
 http://springshare.com/libguides/index.html
 Provides an overview of the product and
a video
Whose using this application?
 LibGuides Community
 http://libguides.com/community.php?m=i&ref=community.libguides.com
 Just under 1000 libraries worldwide
 K-12, community colleges, universities, public
libraries, special libraries
 Do a search by library type or location
What Led
Western Reserve Academy
to LibGuides?
Reason #1:
 Looking for an EASY way to consolidate research
information and resources into one format that librarians
could manage and monitor usage:
 Before: Information for a research project was provided in
different formats
 Library web pages
 Updates had to be done by tech dept
 Time factor – not instantaneous
 Paper pathfinders
 Students would leave behind or lose
 Moodle – classroom management database
 Not user friendly
 Teachers would have to add librarians as co-teachers or
 Librarians have to set up classes
 Neither teachers or students utilizing this option well
 Before: No way to track student usage
LibGuides Solution #1
 Information provided in one format with links to all types of
resources (documents, catalog, research databases, web links)
 Easy access to web pages (no passwords)
 Intranet down, can still access
 Updates done by library staff
 Updates easy to do and instantaneous
 No imposition on tech dept.
 Handouts/pathfinder online
 Students can read online or print out information
 Students who miss class can catch up
 Statistical component to track usage available
Reason #2:
 Looking for a way to incorporate Web
2.0 technology into library program
 Easy transition into Web 2.0
 Offer a format students would be more likely
to use since it’s on the web
 Demonstrate professional development
LibGuides Solution #2:
 Provides a Web 2.0 solution
 Smooth transition--extremely user friendly and easy
to administer
 LibGuides Technical Support—responsive and
knowledgeable
 Our experience so far—students and faculty are
using and responding favorably
 Students using off campus
 Demonstrates willingness to develop professionally
Reason #3:
 PR: Looking for a way to increase
positive image and visibility to library
program
 Get faculty and students engaged
 Show school community you are “cutting edge”
 Provide a program students will likely use in the
future
LibGuides Solution #3
 Positive feedback from administrators, faculty
and students
 Visibility with other libraries
 Selling point for school: offering something
students will use in college
 Several Ohio colleges/universities use LibGuides
Reason #4:
 Looking for ways to be environmentally
friendly and time efficient
 Reduce paper handouts
 Save staff time making handouts
 Quick, cost-effective, and green way to
prepare/update handouts and links
LibGuides Solution #4
 Majority of materials now online - green
 Paper usage drastically reduced
 Copy machine used less
 When written materials needed, make only class copies
which can be re-used
 Time Savings
 Clerical
 Instructional preparation
 Can quickly put together a guide for a class, esp. with creation
of a “core guide”
Potential Negatives:
 When Internet is down – no access
 Cost - $600 (K-12 annual subscription)
 Time for initial learning curve
 Minimal set-up with tech dept.
LibGuide Demo
 Show a sample guide
 Re-create portions in a new guide
 Show how to:
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Add text
Add documents/files
Add web links
Add book links
Embed a video
Copy information from one guide to another
Access to WRA LibGuides
 http://library.wra.net/library/index.cfm
 In Quick Links box, click on LibGuides
 Access to Ong Library LibGuides Homepage