Using LibGuides as a Web 2.0 Content Management System & Collaboration Tool for Engineering Librarians

Richard Bernier –

ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Louisville, KY

June 23, 2010

What is Library 2.0?

• “Any service, physical or virtual, that successfully reaches users, is evaluated frequently, and makes use of customer input” – Michael Casey

• Integration of Web 2.0 services into a traditional library environment

• Two-way flow of information allowing users to contribute to the knowledge base for other users.

• Read-write environment for the user

Why Create a Web 2.0 Environment?

• College students already conduct most of their time online in a Web 2.0 environment.

• If we are going to serve them online, we must do so in the online environment that they are already in.

• Direct user-librarian interaction at the point of need.

Enter LibGuides

• First and foremost, it is a content management system designed specifically for libraries with Web 2.0 features built-in.

– Subject guides setup by individual librarians – can be co-authored by others

– Numerous box types allow for a multitude of different content (Simple Links, links with pop-up balloons, embedded video, RSS feeds, Rich text / Dynamic Content / Scripts, podcast feeds, etc.)

Web 2.0 Features

Users can:• Suggest resources• Rate resources• Leave comments • Communicate directly with librarians via

chat widgets• Sign up for RSS feeds• Receive email updates about new guides

published

Web 2.0 Features it Lacks

• Users can not create their own accounts to customize for their own purposes-

– Can not communicate with other users or librarians through their own profile.

– All interaction is anonymous.

What a complete Library 2.0 System might look like

OPAC Integration

Subject Guides

Database Authentication

Single Log-in for users

E-Reserves

Communication with staff / other users

Personal Observations

• Very high usage of the Guides• Chat widget feature is highly used.

Accounts for approximately 1/3 of our reference questions.

• Almost no usage of the comments or link suggestion features.

• The star rating feature is used somewhat but multiple links to the same database do not share ratings from page to page.

LibGuides as a Collaboration Tool via LibGuides Community

• LibGuides Community Site – browse or search guides to discover new resources.– Can copy links, boxes or complete guides

• 92,936 guides by 21,387 librarians at 1,401 libraries worldwide

SpringShare Lounge

SpringShare also has a support blog and Twitter account

Other SpringShare products expanding Library 2.0 capability

• Campus Guides• LibAnswers• Scholar Guides

CampusGuides

• LibGuides– Library Subject Guides– (2 levels of accounts, Admins, Librarians)

• Campus Guides

– Library systemLibrariesSubject Guides– (3 levels of accounts, 3rd could be students

or faculty)– ePortfolio feature - 90% done

– Future enhancements will allow administrators to define permissions to different levels with greater granularity

LibAnswers

• A highly functional frequently asked questions reference tool and knowledge-base– Users can ask questions

• Previously answered questions will pop up as they type the question

– Unanswered questions go into an unanswered questions queue which can be answered by a librarian and added to the knowledgebase

• Avoids repetitive questions such as “How do I find out if you have a particular journal?

ScholarGuides

• Will be revealed at the end of this month

• A guide about a person – faculty member, researcher, anyone on campus.

• Boxes would describe their education, awards, publications, etc.

Conclusion

• Just over ten years ago we redefined our definition of a library– No longer confined by physical location -

resources available online• This has grown in sophistication

• We are now in another major transition- its not just in how we make resources available, but how we present these resources and communicate with our users.

Richard BernierReference & Electronic Services Librarian

bernier@rose-hulman.edu http://sites.google.com/site/richb72/