LibGuides @ Your Library
Creating Web Content Without Tears
Marguerite Miller, Omaha Public Library
Martha Grenzeback, Omaha Public Library
NLA/NEMA Conference, Oct. 7, 2011, Lincoln
How do you say it?
“Libe” as in “library”?
“Lib” as in “liberate yourself from HTML”?
What is a LibGuide?
Definition:
A “content management” subscription service offered by Springshare that allows libraries of all kinds to create and maintain online web pages without any knowledge of computer programming.
About
A private company based in New York that designs practical web 2.0 applications specifically for libraries and educational institutions. Founded by a library webmaster!
LibGuidesCampusGuidesCommunityGuides
LibAnswersLibAnalyticsLibCal
Who uses it?
Currently, 35,721 librarians at 2,473 public, academic, special, and school libraries worldwide, who between them have created 189,353 guides! More on the way…
What for? Subject guideshttp://guides.omahalibrary.org/gardening
http://suffolktopicguides.org/content.php?pid=109916
What for? Guides to resourceshttp://guides.omahalibrary.org/genealogy
http://brass.libguides.com/SmallBusinessCore
What for? Coursework
http://unl.libguides.com/bios103lab
What for? Book clubs and reader’s advisory
http://guides.omahalibrary.org/bookclubs
http://guides.rcls.org/tapreadersadvisory
What for? Highlighting special events
http://libguides.library.umkc.edu/hispanic_heritage_month
http://guides.lib.usf.edu/gulf-oil-spill
What for? Entire websites
Even NATO uses LibGuides!
http://natolibguides.info/welcome
Subscription service
Cost based on # cardholders or FTE students. Free trial available.
Fully hosted platform, based on templates
How do LibGuides work?
Two user roles/access levels
Administrator: full access to all pages and all functions; decides system-wide design settings (colors, fonts, branding elements, contacts, etc.)
Librarians: edit the pages that are owned by or assigned to them; decide content, layout, box types, and images that best support their subject.
Basic design
A guide consists of pages, each page represented by a tab or subtab.
One, two, or three columns with content boxes in each.
Select from boxes with predefined kinds of library content
Different content boxes
Images, embedded media, & more
Why use LibGuides?
Fully hosted
Easy to delete!
Easy to create: borrow a template from another user, reuse content, or be creative
And especially….
A simple list of resources….
…or fancy shmancy
Why ELSE use LibGuides?
Visible (comes up in web searches)
Interactive Web 2.0 features: webchat, integration with social media (Facebook, Twitter), social bookmarking (Delicious, Digg, etc.), comments, polls, tagging, more…
And besides…
Automatically delivers mobile-friendly versions
Easy linking to OPAC and databases
Automatic link updating; link checker
Handy reports
Support
And more support
And a little more support….
Free webinars, scheduled and on demand.
Blog
Examples
LibGuides @ Omaha Public Library 65 guides Created by 22 different staff members
Private
Staff information
Public
Pathfinders, subject guides, resource pages
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