24/7 Librarianship: Reaching

patrons with digital tutorials

Marcia Dority Baker

Schmid Law Library,

University of Nebraska College of

Law

Information around the clock

• Library resources used more than ever

• Customers need info beyond library hours

• Digital information can be retrieved anytime

• Reliable information from a local source

What is a digital tutorial?

• Anything you want it to be!

• A “how-to” guide

• Directions from A to B

IN or OUT of the library

• Get the word out

• Promote, educate and share

• What do customers ask about?

• What do you want customers to know about?

Demonstrate Library Services

• How to renew library material & place holds

• Use self-check machine

• Story time info and schedule

• Bookmobile service

Provide Database Instruction

• Highlight new library databases

• Walk customers through database search

• Provide in-depth guide on search features

• How to save searches, export citations

Teach Information Literacy

• Plagiarism review & explanation

• Resources for specific class or subject area

• MLA or APA citation help

• How to evaluate print & digital information

Explain Internet Information

• Evaluating digital information

• Citing blogs, wikis and other digital info

• Basic searching vs. in-depth

• WWW and the deep Web

Expand Library Outreach

• “Open” board meetings

• Summer Reading programs

• English as a Learning Language (ELL)

• Any _______ Book/Read week promo

Let’s Get Started!

• What is the goal or end result?

• “How-to” do what?

• Why?

Content(ment)

• To go from A to B, we need directions

• Good directions

= content customers

Tell them what you told them

• Summarize the content

• Has goal been met?

• Links to relevant application or FAQs

• Self contained - provide feedback opportunity

How to cite a blog?!

• “Ethical Use of Information” or how to cite a

blog or info from a blog

• Digital tutorial created for Library Use

Instruction class, part of MLS class work

Brainstorm!

Time to brainstorm ideas for your

library’s digital tutorial!

• Library services

• Special events

• Programs

Considerations

Digital Tutorial

Budget Your Time

• “Double the time, cost and manpower”

• First time is trial run

• Staff time, technology time, creativity time

“Can we take it home?!”

• Who or what will host the tutorial?

• Ask for permission & respect copyright

• Ask questions

Technology

• Use what is free!

• What does the library have?

• Local help, can staff manage?

“Devil in the details”

• Track what works & does not

• Read script out loud – practice!

• Edit, edit, edit

• Find outside eyes

Have Fun!

• Opportunity to be creative!

• Build relationship with customers

• Showcase staff talents & library technology

• Promote library!

Resources• Apple’s imovie or Window’s Movie Maker

• http://www.mediacollege.com/video/ How to guides

• http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/archives/tutorials.jsp JSTOR

tutorials

• http://www.bccls.bc.ca/cms/index.cfm?group_id=86163 BC Courthouse

Library Research videos

• http://mashable.com/2008/02/21/screencasting-video-tutorials/

Screencasting

• http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/05/screencasting-to-help-your-

mom.html Screencasting

• http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ Video editing

software review

• http://mashable.com/2008/10/22/how-to-master-screencasts/

Screencasting

• www.YouTube.com Videos

Questions & Comments

• Do what works for your library

• Anyone already using videos or tutorials?