Taming the communication beast: Using LibGuides for intra-library communication

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Presented at the Library Technology Conference 2011, St. Paul, MN. Program Description: Black box. The back room. Behind closed doors. Such is the life of a Technical Services department. The literal and figurative disconnect between TS and the rest of the library can cause confusion and misinformation among library staff which, in turn, decreases the quality of service the library provides to its patrons. How can we use technology to overcome this disconnect? Many librarians have been successful using LibGuides as a tool to disseminate information from librarians to students and researchers. At Miami University, the TS department decided to experiment by creating a LibGuide to exchange information between TS and other library staff. By incorporating the department s WordPress blog, Google forms and spreadsheets, and RSS feeds into the LibGuide, we have created a place for dynamic interchange of essential information among library staff. The TS department uses the LibGuide to distribute information about our departmental policies and procedures, as well as e-resource issues and statistics. All library staff can access this information as well as interact with TS staff by using the LibGuide to submit OPAC error reports, e-resource access problems, and report requests. This presentation will explore the planning, building, and implementation of the LibGuide and its evolution since its launch. There will be discussion on the pros and cons of the approaches tried, and on the considerations a department must take into account before building an online presence for intra-library communications.

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