Skip to Main Content

UWM LibGuide Editor Training

An internal resource page used for training and getting started with LibGuides at the UWM Libraries.

Unit 2: Learning Outcomes and Instructions

This unit is designed to help you:

  • Understand what web accessibility is and why it is important
  • Identify UWM Libraries expectations for creating and maintaining LibGuides
  • Assess LibGuides for accessibility and usability

Unit 2 Instructions:

  1. Read and watch all of the content in the LibGuides Accessibility and Usability box. There are 2 tabs of content: Accessibility Basics and Content Management Expectations.
  2. Choose a LibGuide that interests you, and review its content and structure for accessibility concerns. To do this, fill out the LibGuides Accessibility Review Form (a Microsoft form with questions related to accessibility) with information about a LibGuide. A link to the list of published LibGuides and the Accessibility Review Form are linked in the  Accessibility Audit box.

LibGuides Accessibility and Usability

Activity 1: Learn Best Practices for Accessible LibGuides

Web Accessibility-- it's the professional, ethical, and legal thing to do! To learn about web accessibility practices, watch the video "How Some People with Disabilities Use Technology" (embedded), and then read the Checklist for Plain Language on the Web and the UWM Libraries Web Accessibility Checklist Guide (linked below).

 How Some People with Disabilities Use Technology (Watchtime 06:01)
Plain Language and Accessibility Checklists

Activity 2: Review the UWM Libraries LibGuides Policy document and LibGuides Content Management Calendar

Read the LibGuides Policy document linked below and the LibGuide Management Calendar (chart). Later, you will review a LibGuide and recommend a content management practice specific to that guide. 

Circular calendar showing that guide maintenance should be scheduled outside the main fall and spring semester

Tip: Edit and revise LibGuides at off-peak times so changes do not disrupt coursework. 
UWM Libraries LibGuide Policy

LibGuide Content Management In Practice

Maintaining a LibGuides over time is harder and less glamorous than creating new content. Every new guide and asset (link, book, video, widget, document, etc) you create becomes part of a larger collection that needs to be managed over time. Ensuring that LibGuide content is functional, accessible, and accurate is a responsibility shared by LibGuide administrators, content creators (Librarians), editors (student employees).

The chart below lists some common maintenance tasks necessary for managing the UWM Libraries LibGuide collection:

LibGuide Content Management Calendar
Maintenance Task When it Happens Who Does the Work?
Check subject and course guides for broken links or links that direct to the wrong page Before the Fall and Spring semesters Interns with librarian supervision, subject librarians
Check tutorials for broken links or links that direct to the wrong page Quarterly Interns with admin supervision
Identify unused links, books, videos, documents (assets) in the LibGuides system that can be deleted or replaced Before the Fall and Spring semesters Interns with admin supervision
"Weed" (delete) LibGuides and assets that are not used in any guides. Once Annually, as needed for projects Admin
Review LibGuides for accessibility concerns Before publishing a LibGuide, annually for all guides Interns with librarian supervision, subject librarians
Refresh Subject Guide content with new library resources and materials Summer/before the Fall semester Interns with librarian supervision, subject librarians
Communicate with faculty and update LibGuides to reflect current assignments and research needs. Before/throughout the academic year. Subject Librarians
Make sure LibGuides reflect current course offerings (publish course guides for active classes, set guides for inactive classes to private) Before the Fall and Spring semesters Subject Librarians
Review LibGuide use data to identify needs and areas of impact End of Semester Subject Librarians (subject and course guides) and Admin (tutorials, FAQs, Youtube)
Assess Library tutorials for how effective and useful they are Annually Admin (Instructional Design Librarian)
Update roughly 1/3 of library tutorial videos and activities Annually Admin  (Instructional Design Librarian)

Accessibility Audit

Activity 3: Assess the Accessibility of a LibGuide

  1. Choose a LibGuide from the LibGuides by Subject Directory. Pick a guide you have not viewed before. 
  2. Review this LibGuide as you answer the questions in the Accessibility Review Form (linked below). This is a copy of the questionnaire UWM Librarians use to evaluate the accessibility of LibGuides. The goal of this exercise is to give you practice: do your best to answer the questions and identify accessibility concerns with the LibGuide you chose. 
  3. Wait for the Instructional Design Librarian to provide feedback on your Accessibility Review Form answers. The Accessibility Review Form will automatically record your name and send a notification email The Instructional Design Librarian when you have completed it. 
  4. Wait for feedback from the Instructional Design Librarian before you begin Unit 3.