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LibGuide Car Wash Sandbox

This guide has workshop materials and activities from the annual LibGuides Skill Refresh Workshop (the LibGuide Car Wash).

Asynchronous Car Wash Workshop

Updated LibGuides Editor Training

The 2024 LibGuides Car Wash Workshop was converted to into an asynchronous course to replace the old editor training guide. Complete this training if you'd like a LibGuides refresher or would like to review the content from the first Car Wash.

Activity 1: Practice Adding and Reusing Content

Create a practice box following these guidelines:

  1. Create a new box ton this page
    • Title it with your first name
    • It can be any box type except profile or gallery, apply any formatting that feels right. 
    • Optional: Format the box as a floating box, add rich text to the box, and create a level 3 heading with your first name. 
  2. Add a new a video/media widget from YouTube as a media widget
    • Search for a video on YouTube, apply the Creative Commons filter
    • Paste the Youtube URL into the Embed Responsively tool* to generate embed code for the video code that automatically adjusts to different screen widths
    • Paste the Embed Responsively generated embed code in the Media Widget Box
  3. Add a new link asset
    • Check to make sure it doesn't already exist
    • Optional: give it an appropriate thumbnail image
  4. Reuse an existing book or link asset OR add a database
    • Change the display appearance of the reused asset

 

*The modified embed code generated using this tool only works for the video URL you pasted. You cannot swap out the URL in the media widget later. 

Activity 2: Accessibility and Usability Review

Review 1-2 guides that you own/manage for accessibility and usability concerns

  1. Open the LibGuides Accessability Review Tool Template (clicking the hyperlinked text will open a copy of a Microsoft form for personal use)
  2. Click on "Preview" at the top of the duplicated form
  3. Fill out the form to assess the accessibility of at least one LibGuide you own. If you do not own any LibGuides, review one of theses guides:
  4. When you're done reviewing your guide, drop an emoji in the Teams chat
  5. Review a second guide or one of the sample guides if you finish early

Activity 3: Managing Your Online Content

Content Management for Subject Librarians

It's much easier to create content than it is to find time to maintain it. Strategically scheduling maintenance tasks throughout the year can make it easier to keep up with your guides. Here are some recommended content management tasks for subject librarians:

Task Description When the work happens Who usually does this work?
Check Subject and Course guides for broken links or links that direct to the wrong page Before Fall and Spring Semester Subject librarians, Interns with librarian supervision
Finding and merging duplicate assets Annually Admin

Make sure Course Guide title/description/content are up to date for the current semester (title, description, assignment supports theme, course number, date offered, etc)

 Before the Summer and Spring semester Subject librarians
Set guides for inactive classes to private; publish any guides that support current active classes Before the Summer and Spring semester Subject librarians
Revise/update 1/3 of tutorial content (tutorial guides and FAQs) Annually, most replacement content is created during the summer. Admin, Librarians with subject-specific tutorials
Review and Report LibGuide use data December and May Admin (tutorials and shared guides) and Subject librarians (personal guides)
Refresh content in Subject Guides Summer Subject Librarians
Check Tutorial and FAQ links Quarterly Admin

Plan For Your Future:

  1. What are 2 content management tasks that you'll need to complete in the next 6 months?
  2. What is one content management you'll need to complete roughly a year from now?
  3. Are there any maintenance tasks that are unique to your discipline, unit, or the unique content of these guides?
  4. Look at your calendar for the next year and schedule reminders for these tasks