The document discusses the library's efforts to introduce e-book readers and QR codes to students from 2009-2011. It provided loan services for e-readers like Sony e-readers and received mixed feedback from students. The library also implemented a QR code project to provide information about resources through smartphones. The library transitioned its subject guides to LibGuides to better share information online and received positive feedback from students and faculty. It also began using social media like Foursquare and RSS feeds to engage and communicate with users. The document outlines some of the library's considerations for using social media and teaching its use to others.

1. Toys and Moira
Bent
tools at Louise
Gordon
Newcastle

2. E-book readers
2009 : Cybook, BeBook, Irex iLiad,Sony
2010: Library e-reader project- SonyPR505
– Service delivery
• loan period, fines, how to issue, invoice costs
– Technical issues
• Using networked PCs
• Adobe Digital Editions
• clearing downloaded content
– Publicity
• Relevance to academic study
– User support & feedback
• What to put on e-readers e.g. free books
• Guidance on use
• Advice on other readers
• Questionnaire feedback

3. E-Readers - students said:
Loved the chance to play with this device before all my friends
I’d like all my reading list on one please
Very portable
I couldn’t work out how to get e-books onto it
I was worried about damaging it
It’s on my Christmas list now

4. Now
Still loan e-readers, (probably)not planning to get
more
Web pages and email advice
Outreach & publicity tools
Student wellbeing service
Lobbying publishers to provide downloadable e-books

5. QR codes

6. School of Computing Science/Robinson Library
QR Code Project: 2010 & 1011
A QR code contains a link, picture or text.
To take part, you need a smartphone or other device with a camera that can
scan QR codes.
Download a QR code App and start the tour by scanning the first code.
You’ll find it in the Reception area on L2 of the Robinson Library.
[You will need an Internet connection too!]
Please note, this is a pilot project. If you have any problems,
please let us know by filling in a feedback slip at reception.
moira.bent@ncl.ac.uk
lindsay.marshall@ncl.ac.uk

7. Student feedback
A fun way to find out about the Library
It was a bit like doing a treasure hunt
I liked that no one else knew what we were doing
Quick and easy…. relevant to my course
Couldn’t make the scanner work
Didn’t like that it only worked if you did it all

8. Resource and subject help- BEFORE
Subject guides – tri fold printed leaflets
Eresource/databases printed sheets
Subject Information on website Subject resources
clustered together
using Metalib
Resources Information on
website

9. Resource and subject help - AFTER
Libguides
LibGuides - content management and information sharing system.
Subscription via Springshare based on the size of your institution.
Allows “us” to create websites without the help of an IT department or
programming knowledge.
We’ve created content, shared our knowledge and connected with our
users using tailored subject libguides.

10. Why we love Libguides

11. Result! – fab feedback within University
“New guide looks great thank you” : Stage 3 Sociology student
“Many thanks for sending around the link to the new library page for politics.
It is really a terrific resource for students (and staff)” : Postgraduate Research Director
I just thought I’d thank you and colleagues for the time you put into setting-up the
Singapore library guides. We found that there are various ways into some of the e-
resources off-site, not all of which give full text access (journals) or sometimes have time
restrictions on viewing e-books; and without the guides we would have been in a bit of a
mess here – students had no difficulties using these very quickly (so thanks very much!):
Programme Director, Singapore
I was in one of your sessions on the library the other day. Am emailing for 2 reasons.
Firstly, just wanted to express how much I LOVE the libguide for SELLLL... it might be the
best thing since... well, point 2 on this email. It's fantastic and easy to use and I love it. :
English Literature student

12. http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/mobile

13. Result! – fab feedback from the Library World

14. Mobile view of Libguides and “Library Search”

15. Usage Statistics for 2012

16. Using social media to communicate with users
General Library
AND
Specific subject
Users regularly check in to the Robinson Library on Foursquare. Win prizes!
RSS Feeds e.g.
•News
•Resources
•Events
•Workshops
•New books

17. Using social media to communicate with users

18. Issues
• Getting buy in
Staff know why we’re on there and why we are using it.
Commitment to engage and promote.
Not about setting up accounts and not using them.
• Over committed? Too many platforms
Not really. Systems communicate with each other e.g.
Twitter updates FB page.
Workload shared between teams
• Tone
RS and the bunnies more informal and friendly.
Students seem to like it.

20. Teaching Social Media
Inform others about profiles and accounts
We demo our own e.g.
http://flavors.me/louiselib
http://newcastle.academia.edu/MoiraBent
Conversations across the University about :
raising your profile
engaging your research
establishing a role for yourself

21. Other toys and tools
• Turning point clickers
• Smartboards
• Livescribe Smart pens
• Ipads used in Student Roving Support
• NetSupport classroom management
• Archives Alive – teaching using Special
Collections.

22. Contact us