Library blog with student interaction capability.

The University at Buffalo Libraries are actively engaged in developing new methods to reach out to today's students using the technologies they prefer for communication. The "Services for Students" page (http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/blog/students/) was recently redesigned into a blog format, with weekly posts to websites and resources relevant to student research and learning. A wiki of student FAQs is also planned, as are other opportunities for students to add and create content for the site, including reviewing books and media productions. Marketing plans are underway for this new page, which appeared to the public at the beginning of the Spring 2008 semester.
http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/blog/students/

Goals:

• Increase awareness and use of library resources.

• Reaching students using the communication methods they use.

• Integrating librarians more closely and naturally with students.

Assessment:

NA

Facebook provides portal for student traffic into library resources.

The University Libraries' "fan page" on Facebook offers students easy access to videos, blogs, the Instant Librarian chat reference service (Meebo client), JSTOr and WorldCat, and feeds from the Libraries' "Services for Student" blog and and the "Library Alerts" blog. The fan page is also very new, but is slowly becoming more popular with University at Buffalo students as they find out about it and spread the word to their friends. The page is updated and checked regularly to ensure that users questions are answered quickly and that information is fresh and relevant. The Libraries are working on podcast video/audio tours (which will be available in a variety of languages) and clickable maps of the Libraries to add to the fan page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buffalo--NY/University-at-Buffalo-Libraries/6629876727

Goals:

• Communicating with students in ways they prefer.

• Increasing awareness of library services and resources.

• Integrating librarians more closely and naturally with students.

Assessment:

NA

Proliferation of library portrayals via audio / video / podcasts.

UB librarians have been actively incorporating new technologies into outreach, liaison and information literacy activities. The list below provides some examples. Other projects in process include audio/video podcast library tours in many languages and tutorials on how to find articles.

Instant Librarian Chat Reference Service:
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/refchat.html

Research Tips Tutorial:
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/tutorials/research.html

BISON Catalog online tutorials:
Basic - http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/findingbooks-basic.html
Advanced - http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/findingbooks-advanced.html

Online videos to introduce librarians to students on- and off-campus:
Cynthia Tysick (click on "Welcome")
http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/staff/index.asp?ID=18

Goals / Assessment:

NA

Library skills program required for all undergraduates.

The University's "Library Skills Workbook" is a long-standing information literacy graduation requirement for undergraduates. The Workbook is created, managed and administered by the University Libraries and has evolved from print to a website to its current iteration in the University's Blackboard Course Management System (local version is called UBLearns). The Workbook is targeted at beginning undergraduate students, and its function is to introduce students to a basic research strategy and the tools to help them find information for course research and assignments. The move of the Workbook from its previous open-access website offered a number of advantages for both librarians and students:

• Students are able to take the Workbook in modules, rather than having to complete it in one sitting.

• Feedback on grades and correct/incorrect answers is immediate.

• Librarians, as course instructors, are able to more closely monitor student progress.

• The Workbook now allows students to familiarize themselves with Blackboard/UBLearns while also getting basic information literacy instruction.

Feedback on the system has been largely positive, although technical problems related to enrollment (often 3000 students per semester) have impeded progress. Librarians and technologists are actively engaged in solving problems and responding to students' concerns, and we presently expect to keep the Workbook on the platform for the near future.
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/workbook/

Goals / Assessment:

See above