SubjectsPlus@ NUST Library
eIFL FOSS SubjectsPlus National WorkshopNUST Library
13 December 2011
Amos KujengaSystems Analyst
NUST LibraryBulawayo, Zimbabwe
[email protected]@nust.ac.zw
Helping library users to discover e-resources through subject-themed guides
Outline of Presentation
• Background• Why we chose SubjectsPlus• Project Progress• Expected Outcomes
Project Background
• NUST Library has been involved in eIFL-FOSS activities since 2007
• Decided to pilot SubjectsPlus in response to a Call for Participation by eIFL-FOSS in 2010
Project Justification
• Subscription to electronic resources• Low usage levels despite efforts to promote
awareness
Project Justification
• Guided searching using research pathfinders is one solution to the problem of findability of resources.
• Research pathfinder software helps ease the job of the Twenty-First Century Subject Librarian.
What is SubjectsPlus?
In summary, SubjectsPlus is an Open Source set of tools aimed at enhancing a library website. It provides facilities to dynamically manage a library’s subject, course, and topic guides.
SubjectsPlus Features
• Open Source• Database-driven (uses XAMP)• Includes:
– Subject or Course Guides– A-Z List of Databases– Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)– Suggestion Box (called Talkback)– Staff List
Why did we choose SubjectsPlus?
• Easy to use• Easy to install and configure
– Good for low-technical support environments
• Platform independent
Why did we choose SubjectsPlus?
• Subject Librarians can be given access to easily create and update Subject Guides– Empowers the Knowledge Workers, giving
them full control of the site contents– Shared resources need only be defined
once• Includes Web 2.0 features
SubjectsPlus Support
• Growing user community– Active, Google Groups-based mailing list
• Documentation in Wiki• Video Tutorials
Project Progress
• Training workshops were conducted for Library staff
• SubjectsPlus installed on (Fedora) Linux server & customised
• Assistant Librarians are responsible for developing and maintaining guides for their respective Faculties.
• Purchase of laptops to support initiative
Project Progress
• Building of Subject Guides is in progress. Will proceed to Course and Topic Guides.
• Currently the focus is to make subscribed electronic resources more visible to Library Users.
• Guides are ordered by department and are accessible online via http://library.nust.ac.zw/sp/subjects with links from the Library’s website.
Project Progress
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ebrary Activity
Searches RunSessions
Guide Contents Examples
Guide Contents Examples
Guide Contents Examples
Guide Contents Examples
Guide Contents Examples
Expected Outputs
• Increased usage of subscribed electronic resources
• Increased interaction of Subject Librarians with users
• Improved feedback mechanism• Improved focus on user needs
Expected Outputs
• Improved student performance• More focused or streamlined ILS training
programmes• Improved efficiency in updating of library
website
Bibliography
Agyen-Gyasi, K. (2008) 'The Need for Subject Librarians in Ghanaian Academic Libraries', Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, vol. 9, no. 3, Winter.
Feldmann, L. (2006) 'Subject Librarians in the Changing Academic Library', Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, vol. 7, no. 3, Winter.
Hahn, K. (2009) 'Introduction: Positioning Liaison Librarians for the 21st Century', Research Library Issues: A Bimonthly Report from ARL, CNI, and SPARC, vol. 265, August, pp. 1-2.
Love, J. (2002) 'The Enhanced and Changing Role of the Specialist Librarian: Survey of Education Librarians', The Reference Librarian, vol. 78, pp. 149-165.
Pinfield, S. (2001) 'The changing role of subject librarians in academic libraries', Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, vol. 33, no. 1, March, pp. 32-38.
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