We are halfway through the semester, and I am already thinking about updating my LibGuides. LibGuides is a Springshare product, “an easy-to-use content management system deployed at thousands of libraries worldwide. Librarians use it to curate knowledge and share information, organize class and subject-specific resources, and to create and manage websites.” When I am preparing to teach, I look at the course’s subject guide, and I see things that can be updated and improved. Therefore, I take note of what I would like to improve so I can make those updates when I have time after the semester. In this blog post, I want to discuss things to consider when you think it is time to revise your LibGuide.
Things to Consider When Updating Your LibGuide:
- Have you seen good examples of LibGuides that have inspired your updates?
- Are you able to get input from faculty members about the changes you want to make to the guide?
- Are you able to get input from students about what they would like to see on the guide?
- Are there any new resources that you want to highlight in the guide?
- Are your links to the guide still working?
- Do you want to update the video content on the guide? Is there video content that you want to add to the guide?
- Do you have a trusted colleague who is willing to look at the guide and give you feedback?
- Have you found any resources that discuss the latest best practices on creating or updating LibGuides?
- Has Springshare come out with any new updates that you can incorporate?
The above questions are just some things to consider when wanting to update your LibGuide. Once you have a plan in place, you need to block out the time to update the guides. At the end of the semester, I plan on blocking out hour time slots to get the work done for the guides. As librarians, I love that we have the room to continue to improve and sharpen our skills. Creating and updating LibGuides is one of those ways to hone our skills and highlight our expertise.
These Great Resources Are Helpful When You Know It Is Time to Update Your LibGuide:
- Student-Centered Design: Creating LibGuides Students Can Actually Use
- Creating A Student-Centered Alternative To Research Guides: Developing The Infrastructure To Support Novice Learners
- Best Practices for Building LibGuides
See also:
- Don’t miss our upcoming webinar on Dec. 9 @ 2 pm ET: Bridging Content Silos: Save Time and Money on Instruction by Using What You Already Have
- Webinar: Infobase Quick Hits: Integrating CREDO REFERENCE into Your Library’s LibGuides
- Webinar: Infobase Quick Hits: The Critical Thinker’s Toolbox
- Webinar: Infobase Quick Hits—Beyond the Basics: Content Options for FILMS ON DEMAND and CREDO REFERENCE
