LibGuides...what’s the big deal?
I
hate to admit this, but I’ve never really understood what LibGuides
were or what I should do with them. A few semesters ago in my MLIS
program, I had to create a pathfinder in a class on reference services.
It was a fun project. But some students opted to do use LibGuides for
their project. Feeling the need to focus on my own “PDF with columns!”
approach to the project [and not willing to admit that maybe these
students had some really cool--albeit mystifying--technology up their
sleeve], I never went there...to LibGuides...to see what it was all
about. My brain was full. I was too busy learning about learning to
learn any more!
This semester, LibGuides are popping up again. Marci Hunsaker, the librarian dedicated to our faculty, sent out a welcoming email a few weeks ago, introducing herself and the LIS LibGuides page.
I checked out the page. It seemed nicely organized into discrete
blocks of information--it was a really comprehensive subject guide to
Library & Information Science! There were tabs, tags, and
tutorials; and the info I have wanted to get from the King Library at
different points of my MLIS journey...it all seemed to be represented in
this guide.
FINALLY it was dawning on me what LibGuides made possible!
All the information I want in a subject guide in one place :)
By googling “why libguides are great”, I found an interesting discussion on the value of LibGuides
which further entrenched my burgeoning appreciation for this aspect of
Library 2.0. Rick Mason, the blogger, suggested that some libraries
will find the DIY approach to subject guide / blog / tutorials / ILL/DD /
librarian info / catalog / database cross-search combo page
preferrable. And comments from Slaven Zivkovic,
LibGuide creator, and Scott Pfitzinger, Reference Librarian, make
excellent--and admirably gracious & enthusiastic--comments on why a
LibGuides subscription would be a fine choice for many libraries. After
all, why spend resources on creating a knowledge management system when
a good, social, customizable, perpetually updated system is a available
for a nominal fee? (Well, maybe the “nominal fee” part is the
dealbreaker.)
I like LibGuides, and I can now see why this product would
be a good investment for any library.
I think if you take your last statement further, you could infer that LibGuides are vital to libraries maximizing returns on their investments. Millions can be spent on resources like databases, but if patrons don't know how to use them or have the basic skills to search them effectively, they can be a waste of money in the end.
ReplyDelete-Megan Stith