Getting Your Students Beyond Google

LibGuides: Research Guides and Websites Made EasierAllison MoonitzHead of Reference ServicesOcean City Free Public Library

Eleonora DubickiReference and Instruction LibrarianMonmouth University Library1What is LibGuides?Web hosting service with web development software run through Springshare

A web 2.0 publishing platform

Librarians provide the content, Springshare/LibGuides provides the storage along with an easier way to edit/alter the information

22Why is LibGuides important to librarians?Straightforward creation of pathfinders/subject guides/web pages

Re-focus your patrons attention to appropriate library products

User intuitive web development (i.e. idiot-proof)

Bottom line: makes your job easier!33Thinking Outside the Box: LibGuides in the Public LibraryAllison MoonitzHead of Reference ServicesOcean City Free Public Library

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Background/History of OCFPLs websiteOCFPLs Web development before LibGuides:Limited knowledge of web developmentAdobe Dreamweaver CS3

Introduction to LibGuidesReference portion adapted in June 2008Main portion adapted in October 2009

55Changes to OCFPL Site

Previously: Severe web design limitationsLimited use of images/other multimediaDifficult to highlight new products/trials/community informationCompetition between staff to get events/products featured in top of home pageLimited to updating from terminals set up with Dreamweaver and configured to web serverLarge learning curve for updating website content

Goals: Streamline reference portion and overall look keep front page relatively sparse Better organization of databases Highlight e-books and other virtual reference collectionsShowcase readers advisory services onlineMake pathfinders and subject guides easier to accessPlay around with widgets and other web 2.0 technologiesEasier maintenance for Non-IT staff - multiple users can make their own changes

66Changes to OCFPL SiteProcess:Length of time to create 3 months (Reference) 1 month (Main)Hardest part was deciding how to set things up and then leaving things alone!Lengthiest part was saving/resizing cover art imagesOnce complete, all links from general library site had to be directed to new oneResults:Complete creative controlOpportunity to personalize each guideIncreased guide exposureComments option allows for interactivityWhen creating new guide, have option to link to side templatesDifferent staff have different accounts, can update their own sections (YA, Childrens Dept, Adult Programs, F&V) at individual paceDrop down feature allows more variety and EVERYTHING is featured

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8Before and After Subject GuidesOld History Subject GuideNew History Subject Guide

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10Before and After Home PageOld Home PageNew Home Page

111112Usage StatisticsTotal Hits since Launch:2008 REFERENCE - 6,7102009 REFERENCE - 16,478 MAIN SITE 21,987 2010 REFERENCE 5,297MAIN SITE 45,482 (as of April 10)

Most Frequently Used Guides:Databases A - Z listGenealogy ResourcesBiographies/Obituaries InformationAutomotive Repair ResourcesH1N1 InformationNews and Newspapers

12Experiences/Problems/IssuesPositivesCOST! (will host your images for additional fee)customer supportrelatively easy learning curvemaintenanceeasy for admin to check usage statsabundant possibilities for web 2.0 SEE DEMO HEREdifferent types of content boxeslink checkertag cloudcan add cover art to books from your librarys catalog

1313Experiences/Problems/IssuesNegativessome things you CANT do with LibGuides:calendar of events in table layout styleadvanced catalog search features - Keyword=defaultability to do custom coding in text boxesdoes not support execution of code - all scripts have to be directed to individual librarys web serverlimited to certain types of layouts (1,2,3 columns) & can look boxyemployee/patron reluctance to changecan get confusing between drop down windows and regular tabs

1414LibGuides: Research Just got Easier!Eleonora Dubickiedubicki@monmouth.edu1516

16Where do Students Begin Research?Source: MU Business Student Survey17

17Challenges in Doing Research18Lack of good articlesSelecting the best articlesCreating search strategiesDefining topicCitations

Source: MU Business Student Survey18How can Librarians Help?Collaborate with faculty on assignment and library sources available library liaisonsInstructional sessions for classSupervised independent researchOne-on-one instruction at library or writing centerResearch LibGuides

1919Research LibGuidesOur goal:Streamline research guidesLibGuides for each academic departmentCourse-specific guidesHighlight library resources and credible websitesContact info for additional helpHelp patrons become power searchersTrack usage guide, page & link levelQuick updates of contents

20guides.monmouth.eduor Librarys Research Help Page20Creating the LibGuidesProcess:AdministratorCreated template with logo and colorsProvided url links for databases (EZ proxy for remote)Visit Springshares website for ideasLibrariansDeveloped department guides (began summer 09)Creating course-specific guides (< one week)Results:Each guide is customizedCombine library resources and Internet sitesCreative design incorporating visuals, media, RSS feeds, and tutorialsLinks to materialsQuick updates

2121Before and AfterOld Research GuideNew LibGuide22

22Promoting Research LibGuidesEmail to faculty and studentsGeneral email to campus when introducedTargeted email to specific departments, majorsEmail to class before instruction sessionsLibrary newsletterLibrarys website news on home pagePresentation at academic faculty meeting232324Have the Guides been Used? YES!JulyAugustSeptemberNovemberDecemberJanuaryOctober18686MarchFebruaryApril2/3/10 presentation to MU faculty24Most Popular GuidesBusiness1757 hitsSocial Work Research Methods (course)1587Education1459Literature1394US Government (special topic)1149American History1140Nursing & Health Studies1077Psychology850Aids & Global Society (course)641EN102 Hiroshima and Nagasaki496Promoting Health in Communities (course)467Haiti Earthquake Disaster (special topic)4542525UsageTotal Guide Usage2626UsageBusiness Guide Usage2727Student FeedbackThis information is helpful, because now I am better equipped to navigate through the research without spending more time trying to get to the source in the area of social work. Thanks for everyone's help.

28Survey Feedback 80 responsesWas this information helpful? Yes 100% No 0%How useful was this page? 1 (low)- 5 (high) avg 4.7This page is awesome! It makes researching so much easier.28Faculty Feedback29Great piece of work! I will make this available to my students immediately. I think this is a rather unique tool as I don't have any other source that duplicates it and it makes the library interface much more user friendly.I have just visited the link and it is trulysuperb. In fact, it is so thorough, that I have decided to raisemy grading standards for the research papers I assign to my students. There is really no reason for them to attempt to cite Wikipedia.com now that you have made this excellent research tool available to them.The web site is an excellent source for the students. Thank you for taking the initiative and designing it for us.29Next StepsLibrary will continue to promote LibGuidesNewsletter, targeted emailsWord-of-mouth promotionFaculty promotion of LibGuides to their studentsMU librarians continue to create new LibGuidesFaculty can request customized guides for their classes or assignmentsCreate guides for new faculty and new students3030Questions/Comments?31

Eleonora Dubicki edubicki@monmouth.eduAllison Moonitz allison@oceancitylibrary.org3132

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