Google, Google Scholar and Wikipedia are emerging as favorite research designations among undergraduate students, while library resource usage seems marginalized. Is it really easier for students to find what they need on those free Internet sites? Where do they turn for help? How can libraries increase usage and relevancy? Are there new modes of instruction effective for the Net Generation? This talk explores the social nature of the web and advocates using social networking sites and student blogs to better understand and assist patrons. Blended Librarians need to add Web 2.0 technologies to their skill set, and this presentation will help get you started. Included will be strategies for assessment, marketing, reference assistance, and instructional opportunities. Find out how to expand your library’s web presence and interact more directly with students. Continue reading Conversations With Patrons: Extending Your Library→

When librarians and instructional designers work together, great things can happen. This archive discusses how a librarian and instructional designer at North Carolina State University work together to support graduate-level distance education courses. Continue reading Tales from a Librarian-Instructional Designer Partnership: Sharing Resources and Knowledge to Support Course Development→

Librarians are just beginning to hear more about the concept of the user experience (UX). Many retail and service organizations, such as Starbucks and Disney, design user experiences in order to gain an edge on their competitors or develop strong customer loyalty. The key is differentiation. This webcast will present a general overview of user experience and address why it’s important for libraries. Comparisons to the use of UX in the consumer market will be presented, as well as examples of how librarians can craft better user experiences. Continue reading Keeping the User in Mind: User Experience and the Modern Library→