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Paper handouts were outdated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 [email protected] Westbrock [email protected]