DESCRIPTION

The Springshare LibGuides for Academic Libraries software product is a content management system (cms) aimed exclusively at the international academic library market. It can be licensed from the Springshare company to build a website or parts of a web site. Springshare specialise in content and knowledge management tools for libraries and education.

An Australian example of a LibGuide used as a website can be found at the Notre Dame University Library where LibGuides software has been used to create the entire website. Another example is the Uni of Newcastle Library LibGuides for Subject Resource Guides to which I have added content to some including Aboriginal Indigenous Studies. I have also created a LibGuide for Indigenous Student Support.

EVALUATION

Advantages

LibGuides are cost effective with a free mobile friendly version now available a spart of the subscription.

Librarians can use LibGuides to create portals to high quality research information for studentsdoing library research - not just Google and Wikipedia.

Librarians of any technical skill level can quickly and effortlessly create content-rich, web 2.0 multimedia LibGuides.

Require little training to use. Free product training available plus webinars.

Content can be reused.

Links can be found and replaced easily.

Dublin Core metadata is in individual guides to help the catalog and search products index the guides more effectively.

Multimedia can be embedded effortlessly.

LibGuides widgets and API, can distribute content into other websites, blogs, and courseware systems.

Web chat can be integrated inside LibGuides with patrons asking for help in real time, while doing research.

LibGuides can easily integrate with popular social networks (Twitter, Facebook) to connect with patrons. This can lead to an increased use of your library's resources and services.

LibGuides is a fully hosted system with Springshare handling all IT issues.

LibGuides have recently added a mobile-friendly version of the cms, a mobile-friendly version of the site can be created automatically. This is included free of charge in the subscription. Ensures viewability on various screen sizes. By inserting Springshare's custom redirect code into the library's index web page, patrons can be auto-redirected to the mobile website with no special URLs required. Up to 10 top-level menu items and 10 secondary menu items can be created.

Customer service is important to Springershare. Positive customer feedback for support, fast reponses to questions, vibrant and helpful community

The LibGuide community shares information and new ideas for continuous improvement of the product with 50 new ideas from customers incorporated recently.

Over 2000 libraries of all types and sizes are currently using LibGuides to connect with patrons and share information online.

LibGuides are used by over 2 million patrons every month.

There are currently over 125,000+ LibGuides created by 25,000+ librarians.

There are currently 50+ million page views per month.

Free product trials with live, fully functioning trial system avialble for LibGuides.

Continuous improvements are constantly taking place eg App4Academics LibGuide. It's a good example of a new role for librarians - recommending mobile apps to their users. The "books" box was used to show the icons of each app. The book cover image URL was replaced with an icon image URL.

Positive Reviews by Australians
Libguides - Enterprise 2.0 for the Library
Take that, Google!

Disadvantages of LibGuides
Most suited to adding content to libraries and education organisations only.
Not very suited to business web sites.
Do the Outcomes Justify the Buzz?: An Assessment of LibGuides at Cornell University and Princeton University with a Presentation Transcript.