libguides and libanswers: the middlesex university experience of using web 2.0
DESCRIPTION
Lesley Curtis-Brown, Senior Liaison Librarian for Criminology, Sociology, Social Policy and Housing Sheppard Library Middlesex University discussed the development of the Library’s subject guides. Presenation given at the ALISS Xmas Special: Developing new resources in difficult times December 2010TRANSCRIPT
Libguides and Libanswers: the
Middlesex University experience of
using Web 2.0
Lesley Curtis-Brown, Senior Liaison
Librarian, Criminology, Sociology and
Housing
Historical Context
• Subject WebPages began in early 2000.
Experimental. No consistency in content or
look
• Working group and implementation of
templates. Created/used to add a corporate
feel and some consistency of content
• Problems with the updating of
guides/inflexible for our purposes.
Problems with the Guides as they
were
• Problems using the template/software
• Updating of guides problematic – technical issues
• Inflexible – structure led and prescribed content
• Guides static and not up to date
• Guides not interactive. Not able to utilise Web 2.0 features to engage users and push content to them
Working Group• Set up in March 2009 to look at the problem and
possible solutions
• Group decided on criteria to evaluate possible replacements to the current guides
• Used/looked at a variety of software/platforms. Some were freely available
• Libguides was easy to use – little support or training was required
• Group used its findings and requested the purchase of Libguides
Implementation
• Some in house training with mentors from the
group and some documentation created
• Sharing and collaboration enabled by the
software. Copying guides form and content
meant not starting from scratch
• The Library Subject Guides went live for the
beginning of the next academic year
(September 2009)
Costs
• Libguides: $1,758 (£1,118.39) per year -
including custom domain and Add-on
modules)
• Campus guides - includes Libguides. The total
is $2,958 (£1,881.80) per year
• Libanswers: $1,358 (£863.92) per year
(including custom domain and analytics)
Middlesex University Subject Guides:
The user experience
Campus Guides page
Criminology Subject Guide
RSS Feeds, Slideshare Slideshows and
Featured Books within a guide
The Author experience – My Admin
Page
Yellow command bar at top of screen
and Edit Options within boxes
Books from the Catalog box. Edit
mode and as the student sees it
Summary of How we Use the Guides
Usage Statistics for my Guides
Ask A Librarian• Middlesex University began using the Ask a Librarian
service in the summer 2010
• Users type a question in a search box
• The software will suggest matches from our FAQ database. The user may choose to submit their question for an answer
• Staff login and answer the questions or refer them to each other. The user receives a response/answer by email.
• These questions and answers may be added to the FAQ database or answered as private responses.
• Library Staff may also add FAQs to the database
The User’s Experience
The Librarian’s Experience
Answering a Question – you can insert
images/attach Helpsheets and useful
links
Recording Enquiry Desk Transactions
Statistics
Types of Query
Libguides
• Project a success
• Springshare have answered queries about the software and added functionality where possible as a result of customer feedback
• Little down time
• Users feedback – focus group were positive and gave constructive feedback
• Management of the guides to ensure they are more consistent could be necessary
Ask a Librarian
• Usage statistics may be generated and displayed graphically and exported to Excel
• Also used to generate statistics of Enquiry desk use
• Issue of management of the Guides/Ask a Librarian is important to ensure the use of them develops
• Further discussion required on how we record our services to ensure reliability of statistics
Useful Links
• Middlesex University Library Subject Guides
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/
• Springshare Company website
http://www.springshare.com/