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Google Scholar Tutorial

As a way to document and share my work, I wanted to post this short online tutorial I made about using Google Scholar and the Brandel Library.  I manage the data feeds (from SFX and now from EBSCO) that make these library links possible but I also feel like I needed to do more to make these connections apparent to our users. There are a number of reasons for this:

  • First, I love Google Scholar and I find it very useful for known item searching. Given students and faculty another tool seems very helpful.
  • Second, given the movement toward Open Access, I think “open” tools like Google Scholar do a better job searching that “gray” content that traditional databases struggle with.
  • Lastly, the connections between Google Scholar and the Library are seamless and relatively transparent – which are good things! – some faculty believe that everything is “on Google Scholar” without realizing that the library is providing many of those links. So I think this is an opportunity to demonstrate value and market the library.

The tutorial making process at North Park is really quite nice – we have a dedicated terminal with a high quality microphone and specialized programs like Audacity and Camtasia that make it easy to create high quality tutorials. I’ve done several and am definitely getting better at using these tools – though I still don’t love the sound of my voice!

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Review/Notes – “How Discovery Services Tie into University Missions”

Dana Belcher from East Central University presenting on “How Discovery Services Tie into University Missions.”

Why discovery? Lots of reasons! Foster a learning environment, educate students, keep up with changes in society. These resources are tied to the University’s missions statement. Moved the library webpages totally to LibGuides; a positive change. Selected EBSCO discovery because they already had a lot of EBSCO products and the price is right. Make sure you understand 100% of the products/services offered! They created a profile for each major/area to customize a database list. After that, they worked with EBSCO to better define the limiters and facets – especially making changes to better meet user needs. Instruction is focused on limiting/faceting a search instead of “choose this database” type instruction.

Advice:

  • Communicate with vendor – make sure you understand 100% of services, make sure your catalog loading is correct.
  • Communicate with library staff – make sure the terminology is shared, have a way to report problems.
  • It’s more work for you – be prepared.

Focus on meeting the needs of the University and the needs of students. Everything is tied to the strategic plan for the library.

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Event Recap – “The Technical Services side of the new Collection Management”

This is a recap of a LIBRAS event I co-hosted on Tuesday, March 19th, from 9am-3pm. Just wanted to publish this information somewhere and this is the only place I have!

Information

The Collection Management and Technical Services special interest groups are excited to offer a jointly hosted event called “The Technical Services side of the new Collection Management.” This event will look at the ways technical services and collection management are evolving and changing and how libraries can use these changes to offer new and improved services to library patrons. Hot topics like demand driven acquisitions, ebook workflows, usage reports, monographic automation, and the EBSCO discovery layer will all be covered.

Because vendors play a big role in this process, we’ve invited representatives from YBP and EBSCO to join us at the table for a discussion about how their services can provide new opportunities and more information to help libraries handle this change. In return, they have offered to provide meals for our group. We figured it was the least they could do – so come enjoy breakfast and lunch care of EBSCO and YBP!

Concordia University has graciously agreed to host this event that is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th, from 9am-3pm. If you want to attend, please RSVP here: http://goo.gl/0JANf. More detailed information will be sent out before the event to those that have RSVPed. We’ve limited this event to 25 people – so space is limited. RSVP early to make sure your school is represented at this great event! If you have any questions or concerns, please let Andy Meyer (ameyer@northpark.edu).

One last invitation: if your school would like to do a short presentation, host a panel discussion, or do something else to directly contribute to this event – there is still time and opportunity! Please contact Andy Meyer in the near future and he’ll be in contact!

Agenda

9:00 – 9:30 – Welcome and Breakfast
9:30 – 10:30 – YBP (ebooks, DDA, etc.) Steve Hyndman
10:30 – 11:00 – Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00 – EBSCO (usage consolidation and EBSCOnet analytics)
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 – Breakout Sessions (see below)
3:00 – Conclusion

Breakout Sessions

  • Access 360, Title Source,GOBI – Joann Moore, Danielle Miller, and Nathaniel Gray (YBP)
  • New workflows and tops on managing a patron drive acquisitions program. – Amy Weidner and Luann DeGreve (Benedictine)
  • New stuff by YBP MarketPlace – Joann Moore, Danielle Miller, and Nathaniel Gray (YBP)
  • EBSCO Discovery Service – Matt Andros and Kirk Powell (EBSCO Publishing)
  • Ebooks – Matt Andros and Kirk Powell (EBSCO Publishing)
  • Consortial Bargaining Power – Emily PR (North Central)
  • What are valuable metrics? How to get them and use them? – Sally Anderson (North Park)
  • Lower Costs, Greater Access – What Pay-Per-View did for Our Serials Budget – Connie Mead and Steve Oberg (Wheaton)
  • Setting up EOCR and EDI with YBP – Andy Meyer (North Park)