Hi
I asked for practice regarding e and print guides for library
services. Many thanks to those of you who replied - we are all
wrestling with the same issue!
The majority of respondants provide both - print and e guides. The
majority of this group make PDFs of their print guides and put these
on their websites.
1/2 amend their print guides to put on the web in HTML and add live
links etc.
However, a few of you have made conscious decisions to remain with
print only, and cite reasons like portability, convenience, and
unreliability of e-access. However several have mentioned that they
actively encourage using the proprietary tutorials/help sheets
available via the database.
One respondant took that a step further and only provide customised
home-made guides for databases that were especially complicated.
One respondant suggested XML-ing guides, allowing easy amendment for
different portable formats like PDAs, web, mobile etc - great idea,
possibly a way to go.
There was a split between in house and outsourced print guide
production - with many of you buying high quality paper and producing
in house, with others outsourcing.
Thanks for that, I certainly got a sense we are all trying to minimise
re-inventing the wheel as much as possible.
Regards
Valerie
***************************************************
Valerie Kendlin BA; Dip PR; MLIS
Assistant Librarian
University College Dublin
Main Library
Belfield
Dublin 4, Ireland
Tel: (01) 716 7165
Fax: (01) 283 7667
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.ucd.ie/library
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