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Using Libguides to Enhance Library Services: A Lita Guide
The easy-to-use tools in Springshare's LibGuides help you organize web pages, improve students' research experience and learning, and offer an online community of librarians sharing their work and ideas. Editors Dobbs, Sittler, and Cook have recruited expert contributors to address specific applications, creating a one-stop reference. Readers will be able to create subject guides that achieve the full potential of LibGuides with advice on such topics as: Learning from the best-a showcase of 28 LibGuides with exceptional design and pedagogy Collaborating with faculty to embed LibGuides in course management systems Creating a customized look to your LibGuides with design flair and enhanced functionality Getting ready for smart-phone users with a plan for the mobile web Setting up Google Analytics on a LibGuide site Teaching with LibGuides
- GenresLibrarianshipNonfiction
307 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 13, 2015
The only people who are going to read this book are library professionals working with LibGuides, since it's such a specific product. With that in mind, I found the need to include a chapter detailing a history of pathfinders to be especially redundant. We, as librarians and library professionals, are already going to know this stuff. We don't need a intro on why it is necessary in a book geared on using a specific pathfinder software.
As this was a LITA publication, the technical arm of the library professional organization, I also did not expect the book to be set up as an academic anthology. Which it was, complete with footnotes and references as well as lots of theorizing and paragraphs spent on historical value peppering the articles.
Additional cons: The price is hefty ($65), for the scope and content of the book. A chapter on design and perspective has the images in black and white -- which seems quizzical since color is a big part of design aesthetic. Why do a chapter on design and not include color elements?
This should be a technical book on how to use the service and maybe some light theorizing along the way. Rather, it's a theory and research driven introduction to the software.
Did I learn anything from it? Sure, a few bits and pieces but what I thought this book was (a HowTo through the software) and what it actually was was vastly different. Even more so since a lot of the HowTo technical information is available online and what I was hoping for was more tips/tricks in a cohesive fashion.
Lastly, there were lots and lots of links and such to websites for examples and discussion, but not ONE online landing page (that I could find) for the material name. Which seems silly and kind of backwards.
I gave this three stars because there was some good information, and some of the appendixes are useful (barely), but overall it is not a good fit for someone who has experience working with the software. A library student, someone new to pathfinders or LibGuides may find value with this title, but if you've created even one guide, this will be too plebeian and a general mess.
As this was a LITA publication, the technical arm of the library professional organization, I also did not expect the book to be set up as an academic anthology. Which it was, complete with footnotes and references as well as lots of theorizing and paragraphs spent on historical value peppering the articles.
Additional cons: The price is hefty ($65), for the scope and content of the book. A chapter on design and perspective has the images in black and white -- which seems quizzical since color is a big part of design aesthetic. Why do a chapter on design and not include color elements?
This should be a technical book on how to use the service and maybe some light theorizing along the way. Rather, it's a theory and research driven introduction to the software.
Did I learn anything from it? Sure, a few bits and pieces but what I thought this book was (a HowTo through the software) and what it actually was was vastly different. Even more so since a lot of the HowTo technical information is available online and what I was hoping for was more tips/tricks in a cohesive fashion.
Lastly, there were lots and lots of links and such to websites for examples and discussion, but not ONE online landing page (that I could find) for the material name. Which seems silly and kind of backwards.
I gave this three stars because there was some good information, and some of the appendixes are useful (barely), but overall it is not a good fit for someone who has experience working with the software. A library student, someone new to pathfinders or LibGuides may find value with this title, but if you've created even one guide, this will be too plebeian and a general mess.
December 16, 2013
I'm not sure what the point of the first chapter was. By the title of the book, it can easily be assumed that anyone reading it is using the LibGuides software. By presenting the other software options in Chapter 1 either a) people such as myself already set up with LibGuides will find the chapter useless or b) someone who hasn't chosen a software yet and chooses one of these alternatives will then find the rest of the book useless.
Then, I completely skipped Chapter 2, because it covered how to make your case to your campus to convince them to buy LibGuides. My school already has purchased the software, so clearly I didn't need this info.
Chapter 3 was for the admins - which was good, since I am one at my institution. Some things again didn't apply since LibGuide isn't new to our college, but it had some great tips - such as make a generic not-published guide to store often used boxes and pages that you can then simply copy into the published guides (in such a way that you then only need to edit the not-published version and all the others update automatically!). It also let me know about the built-in link checker tool that'll run tests on all the links in all your guides at once (with some exceptions, of course). I immediately made use of these ideas.
Chapter 4 went through, in detail, each option on the "Admin Stuff" menu and what it does. This was great, as I didn't know what a few of those options were or what they did.
Chapter 5 discussed when, and especially how, you should train your authors on how to use LibGuides. As we are a small college, the book did suggest that we not do formal training, and did provide some very helpful links not only to the SpringShare online training materials, but also those of other universities.
Chapter 6 was on basic design elements, and as a person who has terrible graphic design skills, this was great. It discussed things like white space, sizing of elements, color usage, and what all you can do with fonts - and emphasized what research has shown are best practices. Excellent and very useful chapter.
Chapter 7 began by discussing pedagogical elements to incorporate such as scaffolding, chunking and cognitive load - all things I learned about in my college Education courses, but it was great to get a little refresher. This chapter also detailed 2 specific examples of LibGuides showing how they incorporated these ideals.
Chapter 8 went over the very basics you need to get started creating your first LibGuide - things I had figured out on my own just by doing it. However, it did explain the difference between the simple web links boxes and the links & lists boxes which I had not figured out myself. It also included helpful links to the various help pages of SpringShare's website which I bookmarked for future reference.
Chapter 9 went over what the authors deemed "advanced content" though most of it I had already played with, and is just as easy as the "basics". What I learned from this chapter, however, included RSS feeds, embedding videos, and the user feedback form options - all items I had not yet played with, but will use in the future!
I just skimmed Chapter 10 as it was on LibAnswers, an add-on that we do not have. It was good to learn that it exists, though, and understand how it can work in case we're interested in the future (or if I move to another library that needs or has it).
Chapter 11 was most useful! It provided a rubric by which you can assess your LibGuides, going step by step through the rubric to illustrate where you can get the needed data (either through the built-in assessment tools or with the free Google Analytics - which it also described how to install!)
Chapter 12 was on catering to Distance Education programs, but it didn't seem to tell me anything new that I didn't already know. It did, however, include an appendix on how to rig it in Blackboard that it automatically links to the correct class/subject LibGuide without anyone having to put in the links - however, it seemed too complicated for it to be done here at my tiny library. But perhaps in the future!
Smartphone and mobile device use was discussed in Chapter 13, along with how to create mobile friendly LibGuides. I was disappointed that their only solution is to make abridged, watered-down versions as the existing LibGuides are not mobile-friendly. However, I've used it all the time on my iPad and they work great, and from my observations it is more likely for students to be using LibGuides on tablets than on their phones - who does hard core library research on their phone?? (Also, I fear that this chapter is going to be very outdated very soon.)
Chapter 14 provided best practices which will not only prove very useful as I go along creating new LibGuides, but also iterated that I was already doing a lot right. Examples of exceptional LibGuides from academic, public, school, and special libraries were also included, though I skimmed over those that were not academic.
Then, I completely skipped Chapter 2, because it covered how to make your case to your campus to convince them to buy LibGuides. My school already has purchased the software, so clearly I didn't need this info.
Chapter 3 was for the admins - which was good, since I am one at my institution. Some things again didn't apply since LibGuide isn't new to our college, but it had some great tips - such as make a generic not-published guide to store often used boxes and pages that you can then simply copy into the published guides (in such a way that you then only need to edit the not-published version and all the others update automatically!). It also let me know about the built-in link checker tool that'll run tests on all the links in all your guides at once (with some exceptions, of course). I immediately made use of these ideas.
Chapter 4 went through, in detail, each option on the "Admin Stuff" menu and what it does. This was great, as I didn't know what a few of those options were or what they did.
Chapter 5 discussed when, and especially how, you should train your authors on how to use LibGuides. As we are a small college, the book did suggest that we not do formal training, and did provide some very helpful links not only to the SpringShare online training materials, but also those of other universities.
Chapter 6 was on basic design elements, and as a person who has terrible graphic design skills, this was great. It discussed things like white space, sizing of elements, color usage, and what all you can do with fonts - and emphasized what research has shown are best practices. Excellent and very useful chapter.
Chapter 7 began by discussing pedagogical elements to incorporate such as scaffolding, chunking and cognitive load - all things I learned about in my college Education courses, but it was great to get a little refresher. This chapter also detailed 2 specific examples of LibGuides showing how they incorporated these ideals.
Chapter 8 went over the very basics you need to get started creating your first LibGuide - things I had figured out on my own just by doing it. However, it did explain the difference between the simple web links boxes and the links & lists boxes which I had not figured out myself. It also included helpful links to the various help pages of SpringShare's website which I bookmarked for future reference.
Chapter 9 went over what the authors deemed "advanced content" though most of it I had already played with, and is just as easy as the "basics". What I learned from this chapter, however, included RSS feeds, embedding videos, and the user feedback form options - all items I had not yet played with, but will use in the future!
I just skimmed Chapter 10 as it was on LibAnswers, an add-on that we do not have. It was good to learn that it exists, though, and understand how it can work in case we're interested in the future (or if I move to another library that needs or has it).
Chapter 11 was most useful! It provided a rubric by which you can assess your LibGuides, going step by step through the rubric to illustrate where you can get the needed data (either through the built-in assessment tools or with the free Google Analytics - which it also described how to install!)
Chapter 12 was on catering to Distance Education programs, but it didn't seem to tell me anything new that I didn't already know. It did, however, include an appendix on how to rig it in Blackboard that it automatically links to the correct class/subject LibGuide without anyone having to put in the links - however, it seemed too complicated for it to be done here at my tiny library. But perhaps in the future!
Smartphone and mobile device use was discussed in Chapter 13, along with how to create mobile friendly LibGuides. I was disappointed that their only solution is to make abridged, watered-down versions as the existing LibGuides are not mobile-friendly. However, I've used it all the time on my iPad and they work great, and from my observations it is more likely for students to be using LibGuides on tablets than on their phones - who does hard core library research on their phone?? (Also, I fear that this chapter is going to be very outdated very soon.)
Chapter 14 provided best practices which will not only prove very useful as I go along creating new LibGuides, but also iterated that I was already doing a lot right. Examples of exceptional LibGuides from academic, public, school, and special libraries were also included, though I skimmed over those that were not academic.
January 14, 2021
Definitely geared towards the librarians who are brand new to LibGuides. Some chapters were more helpful than others; I found the examples the most helpful aspect of the book.
September 19, 2018
Excellent resource for both how to details and planning, management, and assessment of Libguides. Now to put it all into practice...
November 25, 2022
Test for assignment
March 17, 2014
Not all of "Using LibGuides to Enhance Library Services" was useful to me since I am not the school district administrator of our LibGuide subscription. Also, the focus of the book, in terms of examples, etc. is the college academic library setting. At the high school level, perhaps, there might be different uses for LibGuides.
Most of what I have learned about LibGuides over the last eight months or so has been self-taught. LibGuides is generally a very user-friendly, intuitive tool. Reading the book will help me to fine-tune what I already have produced, and will be especially useful in building our school's library LibGuide. I got lots of ideas as to how to improve what I have developed.
The book is generally well-written and easy to follow.
Most of what I have learned about LibGuides over the last eight months or so has been self-taught. LibGuides is generally a very user-friendly, intuitive tool. Reading the book will help me to fine-tune what I already have produced, and will be especially useful in building our school's library LibGuide. I got lots of ideas as to how to improve what I have developed.
The book is generally well-written and easy to follow.
Read
August 9, 2013Would be a great guide for someone just getting started with LibGuides.
November 10, 2013
Very, very basic overview of Springshare's LibGuides. No real takeaways. Hoped there would be more of a pedagogical discussion or something about assessment.
July 8, 2015
Helpful for conceptual and practical use.
May 31, 2016
A good basic introduction to setting up, using, and maintaining LibGuides. However, this book was released before LibGuides 2.0. Regardless, the best practices guidelines remain relevant.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews