PowerPoint Presentation

Reaching out with LibGuides: Establishing a working set of best practices

Alisa C. Gonzalez, Reference CoordinatorTheresa Westbrock, Instruction CoordinatorNew Mexico State University4/29/10NMSU demographicLand Grant institution

Five branch campuses

Over 9,000 of 17,200 FTE (main campus) are distance education students or are enrolled in online classes.

Source: Office of Distance Education, 2009 Mid-sized Research library in a largely rural state.

2Our needLibrary web site in need of a renovation

Subject/Course guides lacked ofcommon look and feel

Paper handouts were outdated

Librarians needed autonomy in creating and posting guides

Choosing LibGuidesProvided an outside server alleviating IT support

Gave librarians a variety of ways to present information (RSS feeds, Linked boxes)

Ease of creation

Sharing knowledge through the LibGuides community

Relatively low costPlanningPlanningEstablishing leadershipEstablish how much and what kind of leadership is best suited for the project.DiplomacyDefining the roleAdministrative buy-inDepartmentalAdministrativeCreating a template

Administrative buy-in: trial need proof, pushed for a lot of initial guides6ExecutionExecutionTrainingGroup workshop (with template)Establishing goalsOne-on-onePlacementWeb site redesignNamingWhat do we call them? NOT LibGuides

Research GuidesSubject GuidesLibrary GuidesQuick SearchResource Finder

Website Placement

Website Placement

Benefits of Implementing LibGuidesBenefitsFaculty collaborationeasy to update, so meet specific, changing needsCourse/assignment guides with no input from facultyDirect conduit to usersFocus on course = focus on facultyStudent involvement

BenefitsReal-time feedbackBuilt-in statisticsMore focus where guides are being used

STATS SCREENSHOTS HERE

BenefitsMeeting needs beyond the subject guidecreative control over contentOrganizational tool (handouts, online reference shelf, citation style guides, workshop schedule)

Benefits: Organization

Other successful guides

ChallengesChallenges (and working solutions)FundingParticipationTemplateMaster guide out of sight, out of mindMarketingPlacing guides where the students areAssessmentCan guides replace instruction?Do students have a preference? MaintenanceCreation of inventory

Inventory

Best PracticesPurpose, Organization, PlanningArticulate problems with current situationBe specific in identifying organizational needsEstablish buy-inPlan for disseminationAudience AwarenessMake guides accessible to users at their point of needUse guides consistently in library instruction and reference transactionsCreate a consistent look and feel83% of our instruction is supplemented with a course LibGuideRe: consistent look & feel: NOT necessary to dictate via template22Evaluation and AssessmentMonitor useCreate policy for adding and removing guidesSolicit user feedbackAssessment planShare assessmentStatsSharing assessment: helpful for program review process in response to budget cuts.23Faculty CollaborationCollect syllabiCreate course/assignment guidesGuides as a basis for communication and collaborationEmbed guide links in course management systemsWorks with collaboration or not24Screenshot of Blackboard Access UNIV 150, ENGL 111, BUSA 111MaintenanceUse available resourcesMaintain inventory of guidesIdentify long-term editorsBest PracticesPurpose, organization, planningAudience awarenessEvaluation and assessmentFaculty collaborationMaintenance

Questions?Contact: Alisa Gonzalez acgonzal@nmsu.eduTheresa Westbrock twestbro@nmsu.edu