Research Guides: Best Practices

It is important that there's standardization of frequently used terms, labels, and language.  Be consistent in using:

• Research Guides
• Pages
• Naming conventions
• Standardized terms

LibGuides refers to the web-based software package by SpringShare.

Research Guides is a category referring to librarian-created websites that are aids for research; examples include "subject guides," "course guides," and "how-to guides." 

It is important internally that we don't confuse LibGuides (the package) with the pages created with that package, and important in communicating with library patrons that LibGuides not be used at all. (Think of LibGuides as being akin to Microsoft Word. You would never refer to a document created in MS Word this way: Just read that MS Word I sent you.)

For consistency's sake, call them pages. 

• SpringShare calls them pages and so do users.

Home page

• Better not to title it Home. Something like Getting Started or Overview is better.
• Start Here is good if your guide walks a user through a process. 

Use these tips for giving a short and descriptive name for pages and content boxes.

• Avoid jargon in naming pages. Favor action words.
• Use specific titles in naming pages. Encyclopedias or Overview is more meaningful than Reference Tools.
• Shorten page titles; they should clearly reflect the content in that page.
• Use & instead of and in titles.
• Use appropriate capitalization.
• Avoid vague terms like other or additional resources.

It’s important that there’s standardization of frequently used terms. Some examples:

• e-book not ebook. (E-book when used in a header or title.)
• ejournal. (E-journal when used in a header or title.)
• catalog not catalogue.
• web not Web.
• website not web site.
• Interlibrary Loan not ILL
• e-mail not email (E-mail when used in a header or title.)
• Internet / internet: Capitalize when used as a noun (i.e. on the Internet) but not when used as an adjective (i.e. internet resources)
• database not research database or online database.

• Voice:  
  • Use a personal tone in writing:  the user is You; the library is We.
    • Bad:  GW Libraries provide graduate students with study spaces.
    • Good: We have Graduate Study Rooms. 
  • Use active voice
    • The library provides study spaces.
    • passive voice: Study Spaces are provided at the library.
• Prefer context to text. We often use unnecessary words, when the meaning is obvious from context.
  • Bad: Library study rooms are available on the fifth floor.
  • Good: Study rooms are available on the fifth floor.
• Avoid jargon. Select words the patron would use.
  • Bad: The link resolver will direct you to intermediary pages with direct links to publisher and vendor-provided sites with pdf or html versions of articles.
  • Good: Click 'FindIt' to get full-text articles.