LibGuides Reflection & Redesign: A Look into NWACC Library's LibGuides Project

The NWACC librarians began the LibGuides project in May 2023, setting a goal to complete it by the start of the fall 2023 semester. During the spring semester, the team recognized the need to address the lack of uniformity and consistency in the library's guides and devised a plan to tackle this issue. Each member was assigned the task of finding readings and examples of best practices, along with identifying learning principles to incorporate. The first two meetings focused on discussing the needs of the students and developing a prototype guide template. The team collaboratively created a list of all the guides, including the owner's names and a column for updated dates. As each guide was completed, it was marked as finished on the list. The team continued to meet throughout the summer to provide updates and address new developments.

In the early stages of the LibGuides project, the team conducted research on various learning principles to potentially integrate as a central focus in the guides. After some discussion, they determined that adult learning principles, TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge), and heutagogy aligned with the needs of the library’s users and goals.

• Adult learning principles emphasize self-direction, relevance, and practicality, ensuring that the guides are tailored to the unique needs of adult learners.
• TPACK enabled the team to effectively integrate technology, combining content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge to enhance learning outcomes.
• Heutagogy, or self-determined learning, further empowered users by promoting learner autonomy, capability development, and reflective practice.

Each of these learning principles is reflected in the build of the guides. The central focus was to make the guides usable in the classroom for the librarians while also serving as a stand-in for students who may never interact face-to-face. This ensures that students receive a consistent and equitable level of instruction, whether they are learning in person or independently online, allowing them to access the same resources and learning outcomes regardless of format.

For more information and further readings on the frameworks used by the NWACC Library, visit the Further Readings on Frameworks.

Before

Before the project, our guides varied in looks and content. Some guides had tabs on the side, while others across the top (as seen above). The home pages differed significantly in style due to this. 

The guides had some level of uniformity, such as tabs for background research, evaluating sources, and finding sources. However, even the content under these tabs did not consistently have the same information. 

After

Following the completion of the project, our guides now have more uniformity in looks and content, making it easier for students the self-guide through a subject or topic guide.

Now that we have concluded our LibGuides project, our focus shifts to ensuring its ongoing success and relevance. We will:

• Train New Staff and Librarians: We will provide comprehensive training on how to use and maintain the guides, ensuring that all team members are well-equipped to support our users.
• Stay Updated with Pedagogical Practices: We will continue to follow the latest trends in educational practices to keep our guides current and effective.
• Monitor Student Needs: By regularly assessing the needs of our students, we can make necessary adjustments to our guides to better serve them.
• Conduct User Experience Tests: We plan to conduct user experience tests and assessments to gather feedback and ensure our guides meet the highest standards of usability and effectiveness.