LibGuides:
A collaborative productivity
tool
UNYSLA Presentation
Linda Galloway
September 25, 2009

LibGuides
• A SpringShare Product –
“We put the librarian back in the Online Library”
• Content management and library knowledge
sharing system
• Uses:
– Share knowledge and information
– Create multimedia content
– Promote library resources

Why use LibGuides?
• Librarians have control over created content
• Can tailor a guide to a particular user group
– Students
– Faculty
– Staff
• Multiple authors possible
• Large community of contributing authors sharing
design information

Examples of LibGuides Uses
• Course guide – librarian and instructor
collaborate to create guide
• General resource guide – a “how to” for
library resources and services
• Faculty/staff guide – assistance in finding
research funding. Also highlight the
connection between the library and research.

Customizable
• Guides are very customizable, but some
institutions standardize look and available
features
• Can rename, reorder pages and content on
pages
• Large community of LibGuides users – can
view and glean ideas from others’ pages

Libguide staff

Simple Course Guide created with biology professor

Guide to library resources and services
Added value to
information –
institutionally
authored papers in a
RSS feed

Specialized guide for research faculty

Add value to pages –
create interest in your
guide
Combined RSS Feed from
Scopus and Web of Science –
used Yahoo Pipes and
Feedburner to set up feeds

“Steal” ideas from
others’ guides
Created Slideshare acct
(similar to YouTube) and
uploaded code into
‘Embedded Video’ box

Very flexible
- can reorder,
rename pages

Users can
subscribe to
selected RSS
Feeds

Good place to save documents
for easy accessibility

Link to pages in guides
created at other
locations (with
permission)
This page developed by
Deborah Lee, Ph.D,
Mississippi State
University. Used with
permission

Help and Ideas
• SpringShare Community Group
– Ask for demo account
– Create and save guides – free!!
• Browse other public guides within LibGuides
– Can add pages or parts of pages from other guides
• Libguides are fun and easy to create

Cost?
• Ask for free demo account
• Very reasonable cost:
– The annual license fee ranges from $899 to $2,999
($549 for K‐12 libraries), based on size of
institution and number of libraries

Value
• Allows librarians to repackage information and
tailor it to their constituents.
• Adds value to information by making it more
useful and easier to interpret.
• Allows collaboration within the library and
with other departments in your institution.
• Emphasizes the connection between the
library and other essential campus functions.

Questions?

Doodle

Doodle Polls
• Free and easy polling software
• Use to make a decision
– Scheduling
– Make choices
• Works great to help schedule cross‐
institutional meetings

Why open an account?
•Your polls at one glance: participate, edit and close from your
dashboard. (If you don’t, you can’t edit your own poll.)
•Doodle will recognize you and protect your entries from
others.
•Invite participants directly from Doodle (optionally access
your Google or Outlook addressbook).
•Subscribe to Doodle via ics calendar feed in Outlook, Google
Calendar or iCal.
•If you subscribe to our Newsletter, we'll keep you updated
with our latest developments.

Many options now
available

Please pick the times you are available to meet

Fun and easy – makes scheduling events a breeze!
www.doodle.com