How to design a LibGuide- Part 1- Rich Text
October 31, 2007I was planning on explaining how to use LibGuides software to make a pathfinder 2.0 but found a blog entry that does it as well as if not better than I ever could. Check out OMG Tuna is Kewl blog for an excellent overall explanation of the tools of a LibGuide. Since that has been done I will do an in depth examination of the tools of LibGuides and how I have used them.
The Rich Text/Images/Scripts option is the most valuable resource for a LibGuide and should not be ignored.
This is the tool used for the majority of a LibGuide (see the top two boxes below).
Or you can add pictures and text in the same box (be careful with images, it may be necessary to resize them or they will break the borders of the boxes containing them). This is especially nice when recommending a print resource (Amazon/newer OPACesque look).
An overlooked use for the Rich Text/Images/Scripts box are the scripts. I have added a (this is not an original idea, I first heard about it from the Ilibrarian Ellyssa Kroski) Rollyo box to the LibGuides using script. Rollyo gives the user the ability to search the recommended websites for a term much like a search engine. Google has also developed one of these but I was unable to get it to work. I have asked the webmaster at NEIU to contact Springshare about this. The main problem with Rollyo is the searcher is only able to search one website at a time. This is why I rather hope Springshare can add the Google search option so the users will have the ability to search all of the recommended websites at once.
Kenneth Liss from Boston College pointed out that we can add tag clouds from LibraryThing using this script option as well. I have not added this feature to the LibGuides I have created because the NEIU library does not use LibraryThing, and I am but a humble intern so will not be with them for much longer.
I imagine many more useful scripts can be inserted (please feel free to write ideas in the comment area and I will try them in a LibGuide and report back).
I will examine the other options of LibGuides in the future e.g. how can a del.icio.us cloud be useful, what are good RSS feeds, etc.
By the way Springshare has a free demo you can check out.
[...] Mick has also created several “How to design a LibGuide” posts. Check out Part 1 (Rich Text Box) and Part 2 (Web [...]
I’m demoing Libguides right now, and I’m using the rich text content box and trying to upload an image that I have saved on my computer. It looks I can only upload an image that has been published online. Is this correct? Do you know of a work around for this?
Thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate,
The way I got pictures on the LibGuides is by using Flickr.com.
1. I saved the images I wanted to my desktop or a file in my computer
2. then I uploaded the images to flickr (if you or you library don’t have a flickr account get one, it is free up to 200 images)
3. after uploading the images you must decide whether to make them public or private, I made the images from the covers of the books private… no reason.
4. now that you have the images on flickr simply right click on them.
5. scroll down to properties and left click on it
6. a small window will pop up- highlight all of the address… http://……and so on
7. copy the address
8. Within the LibGuide text box hit the insert image button
9. Where it says insert image URL do so
10. Play with the size and alignment to your heart’s content. I preferred using the html view for this, but whatever you like.
[...] How to design a LibGuide- Part 1 Several more posts ensue. (tags: libraries subject_guides web2.0 tutorials) [...]
hey,
thats pretty useful. thanx for sharing