Browsing by Subject "LibGuides"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Assessing Library Subject Guides using Google Analytics
    (2013-01-28) Durrant, Summer
    Each year librarians invest considerable time and energy in creating and maintaining web-based subject guides. But how can these guides be assessed? This poster discusses how Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) University Library is using Google Analytics to collect and analyze website usage statistics to assess subject guides hosted on Springshare’s LibGuides platform.
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    Building positive learning experiences through pedagogical research guide design
    (2018) Lee, Yoo Young; Lowe, M. Sara
    Library research guides are traditionally designed in a pathfinder-style format by resource type. However, would a pedagogical-style guide, which moves students through the research process, better support the student learning experience? This study sought to answer the question: Which guide design best supports the student information literacy learning experience outside of a classroom setting? This article reports results of a usability study (n=22) of first-year to graduate students who interacted with either a pedagogical or pathfinder-style research guide through a simulated research assignment. Results indicate that although there is no statistically significant performance difference between guide type, students using the pedagogical guide reported a more positive experience than those using the pathfinder guide. As a result, this led them to spend more time on, interact more with, and consult more resources on the research guide. Librarians who wish to enhance the usability of research guides may get greater student engagement by designing their guides pedagogically.
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    An Investigation of Anti-Black Racism LibGuides at ARL Member Institutions
    (2021) Piper, Gemmicka; Ameen, Mahasin; Lowe, M. Sara
    This study sought to analyze anti-Black racism LibGuides created by ARL member institutions to determine strengths and weaknesses of the guides based on LibGuides best practices. Institutional and LibGuide author demographic information were also gathered to determine correlations or trends, if any. Rubric evaluation of LibGuides found that guides were strongest in areas related to guide design, materials included on the guides, and links to resources. Guides were weakest in areas related to the framing of social justice and pedagogy. Results from this study have the potential to inform the structure and revision of social justice LibGuides at a time when librarianship is grappling with issues of neutrality, racism, and becoming more anti-racist.
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    Library Research Guides and the Learning Environment: Go Big or Go Home
    (2017-04-19) Meiman, Meg; McDonald, Courtney; Lowe, M. Sara; Lee, Yoo Young
    In Fall 2016, librarians at Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis undertook a pilot project to embed course-specific library research guides directly into Canvas course sites. With help from partners at IU's Information Technology division, we were able to install a software tool that uses metadata to connect course and research guides within the navigation menu of a Canvas course. This increased ability to seamlessly present expert research help, library services, and resources (both subscription-based and open educational content) within a learning ecosystem where students and faculty already operate, presented a wonderful opportunity to make this content discoverable. More importantly, integrating library content and research help directly into the LMS itself has promoted greater collaboration among librarians, students, and faculty, and allowed librarians to create a more customized learning environment for students to enhance their learning experience. In this session we will present results from our eight-month pilot, including faculty and student responses to these learning modules, as well as usage data. We will also discuss how this project enables libraries to provide both a consistent user interface and high-quality scholarly content to all students and faculty. Finally, our project presents a compelling opportunity for a more unified approach to information access needs not only across the entire Indiana University system, but among all Unizin institutions.
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    Motivations for the Creation of Social Justice Guides: A Survey of ARL Member Institutions
    (2023-10) Piper, Gemmicka; Ameen, Mahasin; Lowe, M. Sara
    This study surveyed librarians and staff at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions to determine who assembles social justice guides (that is, LibGuides), what motivated the creation of such guides, and how these guides are deployed. Additionally, the survey gauged employee perceptions of library and institutional responses to social unrest. Sociopolitical events, perceived educational need, and work assignments to develop such a guide were the primary reasons motivating the creation of the guides. Social justice guides are seldom incorporated or deployed into wider library or institutional programming, however. Overall, library and institutional diversity statements and responses to social unrest were perceived as words without action. Results from this survey shed light on library employee perceptions, on the emotional labor involved in the development of anti-racist resources, and on library and institutional responses to social unrest.