1. Robinson Library
Enriching students’ learning experiences
by providing tailored subject guides to
library services and resources
Louise Gordon
Moira Bent
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
2. Pre LibGuides
Robinson Library
Subject Information on website
Subject guides – tri fold printed leaflets
Eresource/databases printed sheets
Printed Workbooks
Resources Information
Subject resources on website
clustered together
using Metalib ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
3. LibGuides – a new
beginning Robinson Library
Content management and information sharing system.
Subscription via Springshare based on the size of your institution – but very cheap!
Allows “us” to create websites without the help of an IT department or programming
knowledge.
We’ve created content, shared our knowledge and connected with our users using
tailored subject libguides.
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
4. Why we love Libguides
Robinson Library
Tabs and
content
boxes with
use of
visuals
Embedded “reusing
into VLE and boxes” and
other instant
webpages updating
User
Widgets e.g. comments
RSS
feeds, Youtu
and ratings
be streaming for
feedback
Easy log in
and access
for staff
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
5. Result! – fab feedback within
University Robinson Library
“New guide looks great thank you” : Stage 3 Sociology student
“Many thanks for sending around the link to the new library page for politics.
It is really a terrific resource for students (and staff)” : Postgraduate Research Director
I just thought I’d thank you and colleagues for the time you put into setting-up the Singapore
library guides. We found that there are various ways into some of the e-resources off-
site, not all of which give full text access (journals) or sometimes have time restrictions on
viewing e-books; and without the guides we would have been in a bit of a mess here –
students had no difficulties using these very quickly (so thanks very much!): Programme
Director, Singapore
I was in one of your sessions on the library the other day. Am emailing for 2 reasons.
Firstly, just wanted to express how much I LOVE the libguide for SELLLL... it might be the best
thing since... well, point 2 on this email. It's fantastic and easy to use and I love it. : English
Literature student
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
15. Tasks
Robinson Library
• Add your home location to Google maps
• Tweet using the hastag
• Look at Newcastle libguides and libguides
community
• Post comments on wallwisher
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
16. Future plans
Robinson Library
• Template development & standards
• Integration into our VLE
• Extending use to other sections
• Use for special events & displays
• Springshare and LibAnswers
ARLG Conference, Newcastle, June 2012
Notas del editor
MorningIntro – who we areGoing to talk about a product we started using last summer – LibGuides - and how quickly it has transformed our subject support.I’ll give you some background and context to the project and Louise will show you some of the practical ways it can be used. Louise has created a libguide specifically for this workshop so the rest of the time will be devoted to you doing some practical tasks to get to know what it’s all about and to discuss it’s potential for you.
Before we had lots of different pages (still do but work to be done on website over the summer)Various printed sheets, which always need reprinting once something changedMetalib – our subject gateway from ExLibris which lists resources in alpa order and cluster. Also meant to do federated searching.Other areas on library website to access ejournals, the catalogue, ebooks etc
In 2011, Newcastle University Library opted to subscribe to LibGuides. This web package is available from Springshare and provides a clear and usable platform for subscribers to access and create tailored content. This allows librarians to use the platform to market library resources and services which improve the student experience. More importantly it pulls together in one top level page specific content especially for their subject, Degree or module.The Liaison Librarians designed bespoke subject guides to support teaching and research within the University. These guides summarise the best resources for each subject and pull together ebooks, databases, journals, stream videos, RSS feeds, documents, Prezi presentations, twitter accounts and much more. They were also used by other teams within the library to create welcome pages as part of induction for new students.Libguides have also been created in collaboration with academics in certain subject areas to provide a custom made area for students based on overseas programmes. One particular success has been in providing library information through Libguides for students enrolled on collaborative programmes between Newcastle University, NgeeAnn Polytechnic and NanYang Polytechnic Libraries in Singapore.The LibGuides are now a core tool which are used to support our information literacy sessions. The webpages allow different widgets to be embedded into the pages so we can upload worksheets, create questions, ask for feedback and provide an area for further advice. Users can even rate the content on our pages using a “star” system. Together with the usage data from the system we can easily identify which content is most popular and therefore make decisions about areas to develop.
Why we love them
Feedback; well received.
Promoting resources through mobile apps
Libguides are easily configured and viewable on mobile devices. You just need to consider your design and layout as boxes in certain columns will appear in a particular order on a mobile device.We have some QR codes to scan so you can see our libguides. One for Business, Agriculture and Titanic. It is interesting to look at how it displays on mobile guides.