I have been reading about LibGuides on various blogs including Michael’s Tame the Web and Ellyssa Kroski’s iLibrarian. I am also creating LibGuides for Northeastern Illinois University’s Ronald Williams Library during an internship, check them out if you have time.
I have come to the conclusion that most librarians have not taken the time to consider the implications of Pathfinders 2.0. I examined many LibGuides before beginning my own (the psychology one) and consistently found them to be in the same old pathfinder format. The use of videos, rss feeds, del.icio.us tag clouds (I have not been able to work this in to mine because we do not have a library del.icio.us account…yet), and other web 2.0 technologies are largely ignored. Librarians are simply cutting and pasting from a stagnant html document without considering the technologies that are now available. These technologies may, gasp, actually make pathfinders interesting to the patron.
Librarians are highly knowledgeable in their subject, but are we all knowing? LibGuides are an excellent manner of receiving feedback and information from patrons (students or professors) about potentially interesting resources. This is especially true in regards to the ever expanding web. Actively pursue submissions from patrons, make them co-authors of the LibGuides (especially professors). If it is possible make them comment for an in class assignment (check out the comments in the Lexicology LibGuide). It would be great if librarians would comment on each others Libguides suggesting sources or new widgets that can be inserted.
To sum up:
1. Use the technology.
2. Actively and constantly ask for feedback (polls and writing).
3. Remember a LibGuide should always be growing.
I will write on the actual making of a Libguide in the near future.
