BI’s via LibGuides: All your eggs in one basket Susan Whitmer Reference Specialist University of North Texas September

Objectives Demonstrate how subject guides enhance the instruction sessions Describe how guides employ economies of scale Present a user friendly guide that is navigable for new users Show complex and sophisticated content for advanced users 3

The library user needs a space to find assistance Photo: Pinterest.com 4

Subject guides and class pages enhance the one-shot instruction session Guides relate to assignment requirements Guides are interactive: citation assistance, links to tutorials and workshops Instruction on demand meeting students at their location Online guides, prior to the current practice of guides, were static versions of paper guides (Gonzalez & Westbrock, 2010) 5

The one-shot instruction session For research sources, students want an online one-stop shop at time of need (Wahl, Avery, and Henry, 2013) Photo: Ball State University 6

Guides employ economies of scale by maintaining content on one site instead of multiple locations Economies of scale: As the use of guides increases, the cost decreases A variety of online help points are combined into one central page Costs: Software, training, creating, maintaining Increase number of guides + increase of users = cost benefit to institution (Liu, 2012) 7

LIS EOPe class page: A user-friendly instruction tool Source: 8

Statistics for the LIS EOPe LibGuide The LIS End of Program Examination is given in February, June, and September Highest LibGuide usage is during the months of the exam 9

Other user-friendly elements of LIS EOPe class page LibGuides can be printed Three clicks from UNT homepage:  Class page  Pull-down menu  LIS End of Program Examination class page Easy to update, currency issues resolved Reusable boxes and pages 10

Create sophisticated content for advanced users Embed media and widgets Add book covers and catalog records Upload podcasts Add images 11

The virtual user connects to virtual assistance Photo: Sunpack.com 12

Interior of digital bookmobile Photo: Sunpack.com 13

Guide weaknesses The number of clicks to find guides Guides require maintenance Internet connection Source: Delgado and May,

Conclusion Guides reinforce library instruction, the content is delivered to the user Easy to navigate for new users, sophisticated tools for experienced users Librarians can update content in one location Users have one source for their research needs 15

References Batman, C. (2013). LIS End of Program Examination Class Page [LibGuide]. UNT Libraries, Denton, TX. Retrieved from Delgado, L. & May, K. (April, 2010). Linking through LibGuides: Collaborating with faculty through an adaptable teaching and marketing tool. Paper presented at the meeting of the Thirty-Eighth National LOEX Library Instruction Conference, Dearborn, MI. Gonzalez, A. C., & Westbrock, T. (2010). Reaching Out with LibGuides: Establishing a Working Set of Best Practices. Journal Of Library Administration, 50(5/6), doi: / Liu, L.G. (2012). The cost function and scale economies in academic research libraries. College & Research Libraries, 63(5), Retrieved from Wahl, D., Avery, B., & Henry, L. (2013). Studying distance students: Methods, findings, actions. Journal of Library & Information Services, 7(1-2), doi: / X

Contact Susan Whitmer, , For more about the University of North Texas’ Libraries, visit 17