Demystifying the online library: Using multimedia to reveal functions and uses of electronic resources Justin Chrysostom LIS506, Abramovich

Users and the Library’s web site User roadblocks on the Web Complex interfaces Unfamiliar jargon Counter-intuitive layouts User education programs attempt to mitigate these problems

Ineffective online tutorials identified Multimedia tutorial systems have been developed, however, they suffer from chronic problems: Too rudimentary Too complex Proprietary Expensive

Proposal A more effective and efficient tutorial program Staff will “screen-capture” interactions with the library website, highlighting how to navigate and interact, where resources can be located, and how they can be accessed

Adobe Captivate Screen-capture software that library staff can use to directly record sessions of online library functionality and use Ideal blend of features, simplicity and price Allows libraries to adhere to accessibility standards, a chronic shortcoming with existing tutorial programs and software

Captivate tutorials can mitigate confusion over layout and aesthetic changes No matter the format, layout, or appearance the library’s web site takes, Captivate tutorials can be seamlessly updated and integrated

Implementation These short, topical recordings can be easily enhanced with audio narration, on-screen text, and a minimal use of relevant, highlighting graphics using Captivate software Embedded in relevant library pages, users can follow the video while synchronously interacting with the very web page being discussed

Library benefits Minimal staff training, upkeep, and funding needs Embedded links and YouTube gains the library a cost-effective and reliable content host User benefits In keeping with information literacy research Users have the ability to focus on their particular needs, at any particular time, and at their greatest possible convenience Less danger of users becoming “overwhelmed” Allows libraries to guide users while maintaining a user’s sense of autonomy and choice

Mitigating existing challenges Obsolescence Simple and universal video format may preclude a short lifespan Compatibility Designed to be operable across different types of computers and software, platforms, and settings Dependencies Adobe and YouTube remain historically reliable and consistent sources

Evaluation Success of this program will be evaluated according to site usage statistics and user feedback Options for user comments and suggestions accompany every tutorial video The library can identify what sections of the tutorial are or are not being utilized and can adjust if necessary

Online tutorials can be just as effective as in-person instruction, and this tutorial proposal promises an opportunity to provide a superior user experience, unprecedented accessibility, and lower cost of entry for library staff and budgets. It utilizes theories and practices for online user instruction, does not require intensive hardware or software requirements, has a familiar, established format, and is easy to maintain and update. It has the potential to reduce library anxiety and increase confidence and patronage when users are faced with an unfamiliar or changing webpage layout and organization. Conclusion

Demonstration Continued reading Adapted from Rolla, MO public library. See full text proposal in UBLearns within the week Video embedded in left margin with other accessible library help links Website and video content for concept demonstration purposes only

References Adobe. (2015). Adobe Captivate 8 Features. Retrieved 02MAY15, Behr, M. (2004). On ramp to research. Journal of Library Administration, 41(1-2) Blummer, B., & Kritskaya, O. (2009). Best practices for creating an online tutorial: A literature review. Journal of Web Librarianship, 3(3), doi: / Bates, D., and Waugh, R. (2011). Facebook blog is inundated with thousands of protests as users start Facebook group 'We Hate the New News Feed', Daily Mail, UPDATED: 15:04 EST, 22 September Accessed 12APR /Facebook-changes-Thousands-protests-We-hate-new-news-feed-group /Facebook-changes-Thousands-protests-We-hate-new-news-feed-group Clyde, L. A. (2004). Digital learning objects. Teacher Librarian, 31(4), Donaldson, K. A. (2000). Library research success: Designing an online tutorial to teach information literacy skills to first-year students. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(4), doi: /S (00) Facebook. (2009). To round or not to round. Facebook Blog, Retrieved 01MAY15, not-to-round/ https:// not-to-round/ Falk, H. (1999). Library web site innovations. The Electronic Library, 17(5), doi: / Keefer, J. (1993, Spring). The hungry rats syndrome: library anxiety, information literacy, and the academic reference process. RQ, 32(3) Kim, Y. (2011). Users' perceptions of university library websites: A unifying view. Library and Information Science Research, 33(1), doi: /j.lisr Newman, J. (2011). Facebook redesigns: A long history of pointless backlashes, PCWorld, Sep 21, :19 AM. Accessed 12APR Oud, J. (2011). Improving screencast accessibility for people with disabilities: Guidelines and techniques. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 16(3), 129. doi: / Rolla. (2015). Rolla Library Website. Accessed 03MAY15 Stueart, R. D., Moran, B. B., & Morner, C. J. (2013). Library and information center management. Santa Barbara, California: Libraries Unlimited. Weingand, D. E., & Sinclair, D. (1992). Administration of the small public library. Chicago: American Library Association. Wu, L., Nollan, R., & Green, B. (2006). Web tutorials: Bibliographic instruction in a new medium. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 25(1), 83. doi: /J115v25n01_08 Yang, S. (2009) Information literacy online tutorials: An introduction to rationale and technological tools in tutorial creation, The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 Iss: 4, pp.684 – 693