LibGuides: Customizing Subject Guides for Individual Courses

Reference librarians at East Tennessee State University\u27s Sherrod Library identified LibGuides as an efficient way to introduce undergraduate students, particularly those in their first two years of college, to the university library. Selecting pertinent library resources based on a course syllabus and creating a LibGuide for the course provides the students with a limited number of relevant materials. Librarians and professors view the use of subject guides attached to a course management system site as an effective educational solution. Librarians facing exponentially expanding resources and first-year students who are used to turning to Google for all their information needs can utilize LibGuides to guide students toward more relevant library resources

Redirecting Library Instruction Based on Socioeconomic Data

Purpose. This paper aims to utilize data collected at the national, state, and local level to analyze our library instruction (LI) program with the goal of designing a program to best suit student needs. Design/methodology/approach. The collection and analysis of national, state, and local economic and computer access and usage statistics was carried out. Findings. Although most incoming freshmen at East Tennessee State University have access to computers and can perform basic computer functions, they do not have the skill set necessary to do college‐level research. Practical implications. Sherrod Library needs to continue providing traditional LI classes. Furthermore, new ways to train incoming freshmen in research methods need to be developed. Originality/value. The use of national, state, and local economic and computer access and usage statistics to create a profile of our students in order to assess LI and outreach programs

Creating and Using a Faculty Interest Database with Nutshell Plus

Abstract available in the Proceedings of Ninety-first Annual Meeting Medical Library Association, Inc. San Francisco, California May 31-June 6, 1991