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his quarter the library saw tremendous gains in the development of its online presence using hosted LibGuides CMS, LibAnswers and LibWizard software from vendor Springshare. The library has now successfully combined those three modules in ways that dramatically increase our public presence and online visibility, while funneling core users (VDOT employees) toward our collections, subscriptions and services.
After watching several Springshare training videos Ken Winter created a Staff Intranet we're calling the "Library Staff Lounge." One of the best things about the Lounge is the fact that any library staff member can easily add instructional or training guides to it using the power of the LibGuides system. By selecting the Staff Lounge "group" when they build those guides, they automatically appear in the guide list with author and last-updated information. The lounge is accessible only to library staff. Learn more...
With LibWizard (typically used to create online forms and surveys) and a little creativity, Gil Kenner has initiated a "What's New" list, now featured on the Library's homepage. Gil will be selecting new items from our ever-expanding collections each quarter and highlighting them with this new tool. The way the page is coded, each item listed has a link to the library's public access catalog (for full details) and by selecting "Ship to me" or "Hold for me" options (and adding a name/e-mail) patrons can easily request any item. Check it out...
Ken Winter began experimenting with the LibGuides "System Blog" a standard feature on LibGuides CMS. He is working to configure and brand the blog (probably calling it an E-newsletter instead of a blog) with hopes to use this as a cornerstone of the library's future outreach and communications strategy. We decided to call the E-Newsletter Connections but it is technically a blog. As such, the weekly "posts" we add will be displayed in reverse chronological order on the blog page and are archived by month. Patrons can register for e-mail alerts of posts, which gives full subscription control. Check it out...
The library's Interlibrary Loans and Document Delivery program (led by Barb Neyman) was unusually active this quarter. We borrowed 59 items from 34 different libraries for our patrons and received 48 lending requests from 32 domestic libraries and made one loan to a library in Australia. In addition, we furnished VDOT employees with a remarkable 53 additional document deliveries. Learn more...
