LibGuides...what’s the big deal?

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.