Kennesaw State’s online library system updated their research guides tool for the online system in order to facilitate learning and research for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Libraries redesigned their research guides tool, LibGuides, for its online website during the fall semester after a series of usability studies. The purpose of this improvement is to allow students to better navigate the website so that they can research a broad range of subjects in an effortless and efficient manner.
LibGuides is an easy-to-use content management system created by Springshare which is deployed at thousands of libraries worldwide, according to the Springshare website. KSU’s new LibGuides tool utilizes a standard template to encourage familiarity with the site.
The tool includes individualized sections for each area of study such as developing a topic, finding sources on that topic and getting live feedback from a KSU librarian.
Amy Barker, a learning and teaching services librarian at KSU, was in charge of conducting usability studies in 2018 which were comprised of several focus groups of students. These usability studies attempted to improve upon the existing research guides tool in order to appeal to students and make it more user-friendly.
Paula Adams, the director of research and instructional services in the Sturgis Library at KSU, said that the development and improvement of the existing LibGuides system was primarily a student-driven process. Adams said these usability studies collected feedback from students who were given mock LibGuides and asked to navigate them.
Adams said Barker embarked on a project that helped students understand how to navigate LibGuides and helped them to “go beyond the first page.” Adams said the research guides not only benefit face-to-face students, but they also benefit online and students from the Distance Learning Center.
The feedback and student response to the newly updated research guides are currently being monitored by the traffic on the website. Adams said they are working on a heat map that will let them know how many students are utilizing the site during the semester or even during a specific time period, such as finals or midterms.
These research guides are promoted through KSU Inform, one-on-one research consultations and various events on campus. The library has created research guides for specific classes, majors and even for assignments requested by faculty.
“Librarians are facilitators of information access and information use,” Adams said. “Let us help you understand the nature of information.”
