UCI Libraries uses Springshare LibGuides to create Research Guides available to our users. This internal guide provides how-to advice on creating and maintaining guides, with three main goals:
How did LibGuides come to be?Early library Research Guides were created for paper distribution and were sometimes called Pathfinders. These were annotated bibliographies with resources like books, journals, reference works, databases, etc., with notes on how to access through the specific library.
With the introduction of the internet, pathfinders moved online and the entries within them were able to be linked directly to library catalogs. Springshare came on the scene in 2007 and introduced LibGuides, quickly becoming the dominant online platform for Research Guides. A blog post by Springshare includes early views of the LibGuides platform, including the original content box look.
As direct access to most library materials became as simple as one click, the idea of pathfinders as extensive lists with directions on wayfinding within libraries began to change, but this can still be an important purpose of a guide. Other guide purposes include:
The content of this guide was inspired by and adapted from the following guides: NYU Libraries LibGuides Style Manual and University of Arizona LibGuides Editing Guidelines. For more detailed references, visit: Further Reading.
