Charge for Subject Research Guides Task Force March 2008
Overview
As OSU Libraries moves towards becoming as easy to use as Google and other search engines and towards delivering information wherever and whenever it is needed, we are challenged to create new ways of making our resources readily transparent and easily available. In this pursuit, the Subject Research Guides Task Force will update and redesign OSU Libraries' Subject Research Guide web pages.
Charge
The SRG Task Force is charged with developing a process for updating and redesigning the OSU Libraries' Subject Research Guides. To do so the Task Force will:
1. Define SRG's:
§ Purpose
§ Content
§ Audience
§ Functionality
§ Interaction with other content on the libraries' web pages
2. Propose design elements and site architecture based on the above and then work with a graphic designer to create the look and feel.
3. Implement a new model using the ICAP tool.
4. Our process will include a discovery component consisting of a literature review and a subject research guide web page review. We will solicit input and feedback from librarians at key points in the process.
5. Work with RCIS Librarians to update and move the pages using the Interactive Course Assignment Pages Tool.
Reporting
The SRG Task Force reports to Ruth Vondracek who will liaise with LAMP.
Team Members
The SRG Task Force (2008) is: Kim Griggs (programmer), Valery King, Laurie Bridges, Alison Bobal and Jane Nichols (RCIS Librarians). Jane Nichols is team lead.
Communication
The SRG Task Force is responsible for communication to LAMP through Ruth Vondracek. The team will communicate with the librarians who will update Subject Research Guides. To help with communication, the SRG Task Force will write a quarterly report on progress, give regular updates via e-mail, at meetings with librarians, and may hold forums and use surveys to gather feedback from librarians. Meeting minutes and task force documents will be stored on the OSU Libraries' wiki at http://wiki.library.oregonstate.edu/confluence/display/SRG/Subject+Research+Guides.
Resources
The SRG Task Force will request resources as needed from the LAMP Liaison. Additional resources for the SRG Task Force are librarians, student graphic designer(s), student programmer, systems administrator (Ordway) and the Usability Team. Another resource is the ICAP tool.
Abbreviated Project Timeline
Phase I
Using Ernie Nielsen's Project Planning and Management technique we created a Constraint Matrix to determine what is most constrained and learned that our schedule has the least flexibility.
| Most | Middle | Least | |
| Scope | ? | ||
| Schedule | ? | ||
| Resources | ? |
With this in mind, we created an abbreviated project timeline:
| March | April | May | June | July 15 |
| SRG group defines what we want Review and analysis of SRG's including our own - Small report of findings to analyze/identify what we want Input from librarians about what they want Define content that needs to be on the SRG and where it comes from Mapping of subjects to disciplines/centers/etc |
Forum in person and online Survey librarians on 3 examples yes/no/maybe what did you miss? (Survey up and ready by April 6) April 15-30 Gather findings survey, create forums for more general discussion on creating SRGs (i.e. collaboration with others, content reuse,...) April 15-May 15 Week of April 20 or 27 diagram all SRGs to how they map to subject areas. this will tell us what the related SRGs are, help determine how we will group, filter and search for the SRGs. (also relates to related ICAs and Academic Departments.) |
May 15-June 15 Create template of new tool; create template of new guides; do programming for new tool. Team writes casual use case. Kim create prototype of tool and get feedback from team & librarians. Kim Programs Work with graphic designer to create SRG template |
June 1-15 Work w/ student graphic designer on templates/mock ups of new pages. SRG group discuss templates and suggest changes. Graphic designer makes changes. Repeat as needed. Present templates of pages (and tool?) to librarians for input. June 15-June 30th Test new tool w/ SRG team & key users. |
Hold training for librarians on ICA tool & how to use it to make, update & convert existing SRGs. Working ICAP for SRGs. Subject Librarians begin updating pages. |
After Phase I is in place, Subject Guides will be assessed and next steps will be determined.
| July 15-July 31 |
August |
September |
|---|---|---|
| Training Follow up with librarians on using the tool Brown bag/informal discussion of what makes a "good" guide SRG group discusses writing up project Decide name for Reference/General Information Decide if we will create 5 min screencasts on ht add widgets and other content to guides In what broad subject area do we put statistical applications? Convert our pages |
Make decisions about browse by subject page Discuss how we will foster promotion (librarians send email & announce new SRGs; feature on what's new on library home page) Discuss w/ Margaret assessment of tool, of pages, etc Continue to work on article & dissemination Continue to assist librarians w/ converting pages Convert our pages |
Promotion of new pages as needed Converted pages completed Browse by subject page finalized |
Assessment
The team will survey librarians and other stakeholders to see how well the guides meet their needs.
Promotion
The team will foster promotion when the pages are ready to be used.