Welcome to the UW Libraries Research Guides Blog

• As announced in the Library Services Council June 5 minutes, LSC has agreed to purchase a campus-wide license for a product called LibGuides (http://www.springshare.com/libguides/). In a nutshell, LibGuides is an easy to use Web page creation tool that incorporates many "Web 2.0" features to produce more interactive pages. It will be made available to staff for the creation and maintenance of research guides (formerly subject guides) on July 1.
  
  Between now and July 1:
  

  Our working group will:
  

  • Develop materials to help introduce LibGuides including training resources, online support, best practices and necessary guidelines
    

  You are encouraged to:
  

  • Gather and send the names and email addresses of staff needing a LibGuides account. Only staff who will be guide "authors" should be included. If possible, please send one list per library to jruenger@library.wisc.edu.
    
  • Explore the LibGuides Web site (http://www.springshare.com/libguides/) and guide examples.
  • Consider how LibGuides and its various features will impact the design and content of your current guides.
    
  • Check your current guides for outdated content and broken links.
    

  July
  

  We will:
  

  • Make support materials available to staff
  • Hold an LWS Team Open Forum on LibGuides
    
  • Hold training sessions for interested staff
    

  You are encouraged to:
  

  • Learn how to create pages in LibGuides and experiment with various features
    
  • Begin guide conversion or creation of new guides following best practices and guidelines - please note it is NOT necessary to have all your guides converted by fall semester
    

  Fall
  

  We will:
  

  • Provide support for LibGuides use
  • Develop an LWS interface for research guides
  • Assess guide use and user responses
    

  You are encouraged to:
  

  • Continue converting/developing guides as needed

  Please watch for upcoming announcements related to training and the LWS Team Open Forum. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact me.
  
  Jean