Libguides : a portal to the next dimension of library instruction

Traditionally, librarians have used printed, and more recently, online library guides to provide assistance and guidance to students about resources relevant to a specific subject or discipline area. The creation involves a significant amount of duplication of effort and the ongoing maintenance is often labour intensive. The Central Queensland University (CQU) Library has now embarked upon improving the process and is using Learning Objects to duplicate the more common content found within online library instruction. However, the time still spent formatting and publishing web pages has led to an investigation for a solution to this problem. The increasing presence and popularity of Web 2.0 technologies along with a move towards self directed learning has created a nexus which librarians can use to advantage. This situation allows for the creation of online instructional material which delivers synchronous as well as asynchronous media-rich library assistance. CQU Library has investigated various Web 2.0 technologies, as well as the literature relating to their use in academic libraries. As a result of this investigation, we discovered Libguides. As a Web 2.0 application, built specifically for libraries, Libguides enables librarians to incorporate learning objects, videos, RSS feeds, podcasts, polls and user comments into a library guide, without having HTML or Javascript expertise. This paper will outline CQU Library’s journey from the initial discovery of Libguides, through the investigation into the pedagogical implications of using this type of tool, along the testing and evaluation path and finally to the creation of the first library guide. As the door opens to a new world of social connectivity in education the CQU Library has recognised the need to respond quickly and energetically. This paper will conclude with a description of some of the initiatives now in place to take librarians, students and faculty into another dimension of library and information literacy instruction.