Are Users Finding Our Online Resources?:Meeting the users where they are.

Are Users Finding Our Online Resources?:Meeting the users where they are.

Problem: Getting started

“For over three-fourths (84%) of the students surveyed, the most difficult step of the course-related research process was getting started. Defining a topic (66%), narrowing it down (62%), and filtering through irrelevant results (61%) frequently hampered students in the sample, too. Follow-up interviews suggest students lacked the research acumen for framing an inquiry in the digital age where information abounds and intellectual discovery was paradoxically overwhelming for them. “—Project Information Literacy Progress Report: “Truth Be Told” | November 1, 2010 | Head and Eisenberg

Bad News

Can reference publishers reach out to the current generation of students when: 84% of users surveyed began

their research on a search engine

0 users reported starting on a library web site

Perceptions of Libraries, 2010 | OCLC

Good News

Students consult faculty and peers for help*

75% of students are likely to use online study guides for their research*

66% are using textbooks (both print and online)*

* ERIAL Report, 2012**How Teens Do Research in the Digital World, 2012 | Pew Internet

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Bing and Google Validate Reference“Conductor found that Wikipedia ranked in the top 10, on the first page, for 85 percent of informationaland 73 percent of transactional one-word queries…

At two words, there was a significant drop in Wikipedia’s dominance of Google.Where Wikipedia did appear on the first page on Google, it often took one of the top three positions, where most clicks occur…66 percent of informational queries brought back Wikipedia results in the top three.”

http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2163432/3-More-Studies-Examine-Wikipedias-Page-1-Google-Rankings

Discovery!

The reference layer has the power to compliment and enhance discovery systems

Instructional Support Services:Subject Guides

Explanation: Would you like to create a website directing your users to online resources, but lack the technology and time?  LibGuides and open-source Subject Guides can help your institution accomplish these goals. 

Examples: Quincy College First Year Seminar Guide, Trenholm Tech Subject Guides Next Steps: We can incorporate high quality content into any research guide

format.  We can also customize your guides with books from the catalog, Topic Pages, instructional material and more, all specific to your subject or course needs.

Instructional Support Services:Multimedia Videos

Explanation: Teach students information literacy with a one-click, movie-like experience. Created in-house, these videos are professional and engaging.

Examples: Crafting Your Resume, Visual Literacy, Citation Needed Next Steps: Videos can be created just for your institution, from the content to the

colors to the branding, or you can pick and choose from our extensive catalog of existing videos.

Teacher and Faculty EngagementLMS Integration (Embedded Learning Objects) Explanation: Bridge the gap between the library and the classroom by embedding

learning objects (videos, tutorials, posters or more) into your Learning Management System.

Examples: Howard Community College Canvas Information Literacy Module, Morgan State Blackboard Embed Code Faculty Handout

Next Steps: From start-to-finish information literacy modules to embed code handouts, LMS integration can make information skills a part of the curricula.

Student Engagement:Marketing Programs

Explanation: Get the word out! Increase awareness of both your physical and virtual library space, your library’s resources, and your programs and services through strategic marketing programs.

Examples: North Dakota PSA, VSU Pinterest Contest, Uxbridge College LOTR PostersLindenwood University Humans vs. Zombies Poster

Next Steps: Your know your library users better than anyone and we can help you reach them. Whether it’s radio and television spots, digital posters, social media campaigns, event planning, or even logo creation, we are here to help.

Instructional Support Services:Assessment

Explanation: Our surveys and quizzes can be completed online, which means you can easily embed them in course materials, subject guides or learning/course management systems and more. 

Examples: Cal Lutheran First Year Assessment, Sample Reporting Next Steps: We can deliver the results in both raw data form and also package it as

an attractive report suitable for accreditation, demonstration usage, or for grant and funding opportunities.

So How to Be Found?

Dedicated to becoming discoverable.That means being ubiquitous in the desktop, and beyond:

Reading materials

Project Information Literacy (PIL): http://projectinfolit.org

Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Libraries (ERIAL): http://erialproject.org

Pew Internet & American Life Project: http://pewinternet.org

Libraries Thriving: http://librariesthriving.org

Thank you!Jackie RicordsCredo Evangelistjackie@credoreference.com