<div dir="ltr">Maintaining LibGuides is a lot of work, if done well; we have so few librarians left that we have more or less the minimum needed in our guides. <div><br></div><div>I've always wondered why we librarians like reinventing the wheel. If you look at a specific subject, for example, in the Community section you can find dozens of libraries doing it almost the exact same way, plus or minus a couple of databases at individual institutions. That's a lot of professional time going into something that isn't really all that creative or original. Some have tons of text, and I'm skeptical about how many patrons - faculty or students - actually read all that text. Some have course guides, and those are perhaps useful, if actually used (are they used?). Sure you can copy the open guides, but so many have local detail that it doesn't save a ton of time. What is there were a master LibGuide template that ALL libraries could use, and just pick the resources we each have access to? Not very original, but does it need to be?<div><br></div><div>Our compromises: Having a template helps so that each librarian isn't choosing colors, boxes, etc. And a mandatory time period in which the guides are all checked or updated, with reminders going out to guide owners to do the update. Cancelling LibGuides would only mean having to create subject access to online resources some other way; enough patrons want subject access that we have to have something. Better something simple than everyone doing web pages.</div><div><br></div><div>I do wonder if the guides are worth the time, when there is so little time available. I guess if you have a plethora of librarians around, why not?</div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Karen Jensen<br>Collection Development Officer<br>Rasmuson Library<br>University of Alaska Fairbanks<br></div>907-474-6695<br><div><a href="mailto:kljensen@alaska.edu" target="_blank">kljensen@alaska.edu</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 5:36 AM, Lawless, Jane <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jlawless@post03.curry.edu" target="_blank">jlawless@post03.curry.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hi Houeida, This is an interesting question. We have never discussed cancelling our subscription to our research guides platform (Springshare), but we frequently discuss the
fact that guide maintenance is not what we want it to be. Each guide is assigned to an owner, who is liaison to that guide’s discipline; the owner/liaison is responsible for maintenance and updates. We haven’t developed a workflow for maintenance, though,
and it often falls to the bottom of the list, especially for less-used guides.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">But we rely so heavily on our guides, I don’t think we would consider cancelling the subscription.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Jane<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Jane Lawless, MLS, BA<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Associate Professor<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Levin Memorial Library<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Curry College<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Milton MA 02186<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="tel:(617)%20333-2245" value="+16173332245" target="_blank">(617) 333-2245</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jlawless@curry.edu" target="_blank">jlawless@curry.edu</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Eril-l [mailto:<a href="mailto:eril-l-bounces@lists.eril-l.org" target="_blank">eril-l-bounces@lists.<wbr>eril-l.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Houeida Charara<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 6, 2018 8:22 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:Eril-l@lists.eril-l.org" target="_blank">Eril-l@lists.eril-l.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Eril-l] Research Guides<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Dear All,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">I am interested to know if any library considered to cancel, or cancelled, its research guides subscription due to lack of staff needed to create, update and
maintain the said guides.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Any feedback is welcome.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Houeida
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060">HKC<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#002060">Houeida Kammourié-Charara</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">,
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">D.F.A.P., MScEcon</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">InfoCommons Librarian
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Tel: <a href="tel:+961%201%20786%20456" value="+9611786456" target="_blank">+961 1 786 456 ext. 1817</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Fax: <a href="tel:+961%201%20867%20098" value="+9611867098" target="_blank">+961 1 867 098</a></span><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0070c0"> <u></u><u></u></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0070c0"><img width="121" height="68" style="width:1.2604in;height:.7083in" id="m_741040621601080671Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D39F2D.ECEA5040" alt="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/18/8e/5e/188e5e0b31f829b9a8ca026fdd902836.jpg"></span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.lau.edu.lb/" target="_blank">http://www.lau.edu.lb/</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">P.O.Box. 13-5053 Chouran
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Beirut 1102 2801 Lebanon<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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