Bridge to eResources eBook Cards Mia Tignor, Emerging Technologies Librarian Indian River State College

The Beginning: Why Promote? There’s only so much room! Lack of awareness/familiarity with online collections Information overload But we can only have so many books in stock (That walk away) Students are appreciative (but surprised) when they hear about our resources Some have a low level of digital literacy skills and have never used our eBook collection before Can overload students with information in instructional research sessions Some joint use facilities don’t have the luxury of an IRSC librarian at all times

Why Print Marketing? A physical takeaway Point of need resources Visibility A bridge for students with low digital literacy skills We can also use the cards in the virtual format to that faculty can embed in their courses.

Books for ENC Courses

The Plan Identify books and authors in the reserve section Find/purchase titles in different formats Create cards for the titles

Designing the Cards Over 100 titles (taken directly from the Reserves section at the main library. We used the covers from the specific editions of the eBooks.

Anatomy of an eBook Card: Version One Link to eBook Login information QR Code Problems and solutions had to redesign the cards without the use of bit.ly

Anatomy of an eBook Card: Version Two Links to eResources in different formats Login information Updated eBook card

We created tiny “eBook Libraries” with the cards that are available at all five campuses.

Unexpected Partnerships Graphic Design Class Engage your creative departments (student contests, etc) Met with instructor and presented the eBook cards as a project for his students. Students had to create updated covers for the books within copyright restrictions (some worked great, some, not so much.) The project will be repeated in the Fall semester with more tailored choices, but the program was a very good way to open up channels with the Graphic Design program at IRSC, a BA program that does not use the library heavily. One really great outcome was that one of the students chose Frankenstein...

400+ cards requested from faculty members Results 400+ cards requested from faculty members 181 eAudiobook downloads 515% Increase from 2013-2014 39 downloads of selected books to 240 downloads.

One Book, One College Which we have selected for IRSC’s One Book, One College Initiative. 2,000 cards distributed at 5 campuses 1200 hits to the LibGuide

Testing Resources

The Plan Identify most circulated testing resources Target those programs with promotional materials

A poster series that highlighted specific programs was created and posters were placed in the library and in program specific buildings. Promotional items also targeted specific eResources that students used regularly, specifically testing materials and digital back issues of print scholarly journals. The posters created a 206% increase in the use of Testing and Education Reference Center from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014. QR codes and in-shelf signage to access digital magazines, streaming audio, or digital nursing resources did not increase usage.

Results 206% increase in the use of Testing and Education Reference Center from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014. 2124 visits to the Testing Resources LibGuide 772 Full-text uses of the FTCE eBooks From 139 uses in the 2012 academic year to 426 in the 2013 year. . LibGuide: 862 pageviews may 2014-2015 1262 pageviews May 2013-May 2014 (11th most used guide in 2013, 20th in 2014)

Database Usage Before Cards: 65,113 (connections for 2009-10 AY) After Cards: 122,584 (connections for 2013-14 AY) 7,100 cards have been distributed

irsc.libguides.com/ebooks Questions? Visit: irsc.libguides.com/ebooks