Formal procedures and best practice guidelines for LibGuides can be found in the Library share drive N:\Library\Services\Library Guides\2020 Library Online Learning and Teaching Resources Procedures and Best Practice Guidelines.pdf. These should be read first.
This guide contains practical guidance on creating and/or editing guides with step by step instructions and ACU library preferred options.
Contact Library Help anytime for assistance.
You can also post questions to the Library LibApps Workplace group.
It is highly recommended to look at Springshare's suite of beginning training videos before creating/editing a guide for the first time. Follow the help link in the top navigation menu bar once logged into LibGuides.
You must use one of our two templates to begin:
These contain the preferred layout and example boxes that you can re-use/edit.
If you require a different layout, please contact library help.
Before adding any resources to your guide, please search to see if it exists in the libguide system already. Otherwise items are duplicated and our asset list becomes difficult to maintain.
Copying and pasting directly from other programs, such as MS Word or Powerpoint, brings across unnecessary and junk code.
If you wish to copy from another program, first strip the formatting by pasting it into Notepad (comes standard on all ACU computers). Copy your content from Notepad and paste it into your Libguide box. You can then format it using the headings and other options in the WSIWYG editor.
Sometimes you may need the direct link to a database, for example you are adding it in inside some text. To get the URL you can go to the Databases A-Z page and use the "share" link. Use the URL as is, it already includes authentication.
Using permalinks from the library catalogue is the preferred method for linking to library resources such as ebooks and ejournals.
Reasons include:
Electronic resources are preferred for use in libguides. Any physical resources will require approval from the Associate Director Libraries, Client Services.
Physical items are added in the same manner as for ejournals or ebooks above.
Includes government websites, open access resources or items without subscription not in the A-Z list.
Deep links are useful for ebook chapters or items not available in the catalogue such as articles or videos inside databases.
Accessible tables need HTML markup that indicates header cells <th> and data cells <td> and defines their relationship. Assistive technologies use this information to provide context to users.
You can use the WSIWYG editor in libguides to insert a table that will mark up the headings and data for you. You must make sure to select which columns/rows are headings before you start entering data.
Alternatively, re-use one of the example tables in the next section and edit for your purposes.
The most common table we use is one with two headings (column and row). Please use these settings:
Heading one | Heading two | Heading three | |
---|---|---|---|
Row heading one | data | data | data |
Row heading two | data | data | data |
Row heading three | data | data | data |
Row heading four | data | data | data |
Do not use tables as a way to format content. It can introduce reading and navigation order issues. Screen readers may interpret them as data tables (i.e., announcing column and row numbers), causing significant overhead on screen reader users.
See Tables Tutorial | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) | W3C for further information.
Wrap tables in <div class="table-responsive"> </div> to get responsive tables that display a scroll bar on small screens. (The code that formats this is in the springshare default CSS file - tables.less)
Feature | EndNote Desktop | Mendeley Reference Manager | Zotero |
---|---|---|---|
Ease of use | Harder to learn initially | Easy to use | Easy to use |
Cost | Free for ACU staff and students | Free | Free (up to 300 MB) |
Storage capabilities | Unlimited |
Free account: 2GB ACU Institutional Edition: 100GB |
300 MB (users can pay for extra storage beyond 300 MB) |
Software support |
ACU Library supports EndNote (guide, webinars and consultations) EndNote website provides online training materials |
ACU Library guide Mendeley website provides online training materials |
ACU Library guide Zotero website provides online training materials |
Word processor compatibility |
Microsoft Word Apache OpenOffice Apple Pages LibreOffice |
Microsoft Word OpenOffice LibreOffice NeoOffice |
Microsoft Word LibreOffice OpenOffice NeoOffice Google Docs |
Number of reference styles | Over 6,000 styles | Over 10,000 styles via the Citation Style Language (CSL) repository | Over 8,000 styles via the Style Repository |
Operating system compatibility | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac OS X or later, Linux | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Syncing |
Cloud storage and syncing via EndNote Web. Register for an account. |
Cloud storage and syncing available. Register for an account. |
Cloud storage and syncing available. Register for an account. |
Advantages |
Premium product Advanced features Easily customised Easy to edit reference styles Supported by ACU |
Easy to use Collaborative, social networking functionality |
Easy to use Great for importing records from non-traditional sources such as websites |
Best suited to | Users comfortable with reference management systems. |
Undergraduates who have never used a reference management system. Researchers sharing papers and networking. |
Undergraduates who have never used a reference management system. |
First Name | Last Name |
---|---|
Jill | Smith |
Eve | Jackson |
Adam | Johnson |
First Name | Last Name |
---|---|
Jill | Smith |
Eve | Jackson |
Adam | Johnson |
*add css to individual guide to make this work.
Send a request to library help and ask for:
Firstname Lastname
Senior Library Coordinator, Subject/discipline/faculty | Campus
T: +61 X XXXX XXXX E: firstname.lastname@acu.edu.au
Firstname Lastname
Senior Librarian, Subject/discipline/faculty | Campus
T: +61 X XXXX XXXX E: firstname.lastname@acu.edu.au
If you do not want to list individuals, link to the library contact page or the LARS contact page.
Once your guide is finished and approved by the guide owner, you can submit it for final checking and publication. Have a look at the short video below or follow these steps:
Systems & Discovery will review the guide and liaise with the guide owner about any changes that might be required.
Guides should be reviewed and updated once per semester.
You need to:
You may like to: