UGA’s Alexander Campbell King Law Library: Phasing In Inclusive Usability Testing

For years we have offered our EBSCO discovery layer service (EDS) as a secondary search tool in addition to our traditional online catalog (GAVEL) linking to both from the library website. However, the traditional catalog search, also known as “Classic GAVEL”, is always listed first while EDS, also known as “GAVEL & Beyond”, is listed second. Although maintenance has continued for populating EDS with library records on a daily basis, customization for this interface and sharing it with our users has not been prioritized. Before making any decisions related to changing the primary location our users experience when searching the catalog, or dedicating time to improving the look, feel and functionality of either interface, we knew we needed more information about our users and their preferences. In this article we present the findings of a library usability test conducted at UGA Law Library, sharing the test design and results from our comparison study between Innovative’s Sierra WEBPac and EBSCO’s discovery layer

Comparison Usability Testing: Classic Online Catalog vs. EBSCO Discovery Layer

For years we have offered our EBSCO discovery layer service (EDS) as a secondary search tool in addition to our traditional online catalog (GAVEL) linking to both from the library website. However, the traditional catalog search, also known as “Classic GAVEL”, is always listed first while EDS, also known as “GAVEL & Beyond”, is listed second. Although maintenance has continued for populating EDS with library records on a daily basis, customization for this interface and sharing it with our users has not been prioritized. Before making any decisions related to changing the primary location our users experience when searching the catalog, or dedicating time to improving the look, feel and functionality of either interface, we knew we needed more information about our users and their preferences. In this article we present the findings of a library usability test conducted at UGA Law Library, sharing the test design and results from our comparison study between Innovative’s Sierra WEBPac and EBSCO’s discovery layer

Georgia Library Spotlight: Library Fest at UGA’s Law Library

This fall the Alexander Campbell King Law Library at the University of Georgia turned library orientation for incoming students into a Fest, and opened the event up to the entire law school community. The idea for a fest was a collaborative one, with examples from other library orientation programs as well as UGA’s staff resource fair, our experiences at conferences like CALICon, and even a AALL poster session contributing to the final event design and deployment. How did we get here? This article summarizes the team effort and the outcome. Georgia Library Spotlight is a regular feature managed and hosted by the Georgia Library Association to highlight success and interesting programming from libraries across the state. Georgia Library Quarterly is the official journal of the Georgia Library Association

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station: A Question of Benefit versus Risk

This report was requested by Representative Anne Gobi to discuss the benefits and risks associated with Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and develop recommendations based on the data collected. Concern about the safety of the plant increased after the accident that happened at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on March 11, 2011. Extensive research was done to formulate recommendations on the safety of the plant and its evacuation plans

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Law Library (But Were Afraid to Ask)

There\u27s more to the library than books and a pretty view! Come learn about the useful and not-so-obvious services the law library has to offer. Topics covered will include: Navigating the library facility, browsing the shelves by subject, and emergency prep info Other items (other than books!) that are available for checkout How to find and request items in Course Reserves or through Interlibrary Loan How to search GAVEL (the library catalog) and use subject headings to discover related items by topic What our most popular databases are (other than Westlaw and Lexis Nexis) and how to use our A to Z list and research guides What types of questions the Circulation Desk and the Reference Desk can answe

How to Hack Outreach: An A to Z Guide of Collaborative Ideas, Tips & Tools

In an increasingly digital word, how do we communicate to library users? How can librarians and staff collaborate effectively on a variety of outreach efforts? In this session, panelists from UGA Law Library take turns sharing an alphabetically organized catalog of favorite tools, tips and general ideas including library displays, social media, and face-to-face offerings. At the close of the presentation attendees will have a chance to ask questions, participate in an open discussion about what has worked or not for them and why, and take a handout of our complete A to Z guide with resource links and examples

How to Hack Outreach: An A–Z Guide of Ideas, Tips, and Tools

In this article librarians and staff collaborate to deliver an alphabetical list of tips, tools, tricks and other resources for how they effectively work inter-departmentally to promote their library and institutional resources, services and information. The piece includes specific examples featuring several ideas from past library events, exhibits and displays, and other efforts with nods to several other colleagues from UGA Law Library. This article served as written documentation of this group\u27s fall 2019 panel presentation at the Georgia Libraries Conference

Welcoming Wellness to Your Library

Promoting wellness in the library is a natural extension of our roles as librarians and the role of the library in the community. Librarians have an opportunity to be role models and to exhibit the importance of making time for daily healthy habits. In this presentation, we will discuss the ways in which we have included wellness programming at an academic law library, our successes and failures, and the impact this programming has had on our law school community. Examples of our wellness programming include yoga in the library; circulating recreational equipment; magazine subscriptions; sound baths; virtual reality; jigsaw puzzles; exam period “stressbusters” like coloring pages, word searches, and games; mindfulness sessions; and therapy dogs. For each event, we will share photos and discuss time commitment, advertising, cost, engagement level, and lessons learned

Let’s Celebrate!

This presentation will take you through the academic year of celebrations we plan and host at the Law Library, such as Valentine’s Day, ALA’s International Games Week, Dictionary Day, and Constitution Day. By recognizing and celebrating both major and minor holidays, we boost morale, build community, expose our students to new information, and give our patrons something to look forward to. Details on purpose, time commitment, advertising, cost, engagement level, and lessons learned will be shared