Product: Lean Library Futures
• Product Pillars/Features: Library Service Workflow Integrations
• Themes: Patron Onboarding, LibGuides, Literature Search
Increasing patron usage of library support: embedding LibGuides in the patron’s workflow.
How Utah State University uses Lean Library Futures to:
• Deliver library materials into patron workflows, at the point of need
• Increase usage and awareness of LibGuides
• Promote library support for literature search techniques.
“Having invested so much time to provide our patrons with library training materials, we want to see them used. With Lean Library Futures delivering our LibGuides into our patrons’ workflow, we have seen usage for a LibGuide increase by 450%.”
What is Lean Library Futures?
A premium service that helps libraries bring their services and content into their patron’s workflow, driving usage and putting the library at the centre of the student and researcher experience.
• Consists of a browser plug-in for patrons, configured by an easy-to-use dashboard for librarians.
• 6 main elements:
1. Library service and content workflow integrations
2. The Workflow Librarian patron sidebar
3. Patron Insights qualitative feedback
4. Library Trustmark
5. Patron Workflow Manager
6. Access solution
The Challenge
• Librarians spend hundreds of hours each year creating, maintaining and promoting LibGuides and other library support but can struggle to drive patron awareness and usage
• Patrons often have to step outside their workflows to access library support such as literature search training
• Patron-librarian support queries for topics like Google Scholar tend to get stuck on the basics, as opposed to more valuable, advanced search techniques.
“We have tutorials and help content that live outside the systems where patrons are searching, but we really want to bring those support materials to patrons at their point of need – that’s where they really want them.”
The Solution
Utah used Lean Library Futures to:
• Deliver targeted library support material to their patrons at the point of need, such as the LibGuide for Google Scholar on Google Scholar itself, whilst avoiding spamming patrons (see Figure 1 and Figure 2)
• Increase usage of a Utah LibGuide by 450%
• Attempt to shift librarian time away from basic patron support, by using LibGuides delivered at the point of need to preempt support tickets on basic guidance and shift these to more advanced training, such as sophisticated literature search techniques.
“For our patrons that use the Lean Library plugin, this integration has allowed us to bring available library support materials directly to our patrons, where and when they need them.”
450% INCREASE IN USAGE.
Springshare & Lean Library Partnership
Launched: March 2021
The partnership streamlines the delivery of Springshare’s suite of library tools into patron workflows, through integrations with the Lean Library browser extension. This helps enhance the Lean Library LibGuide integration.
Find out more about Lean Library.
If you’d like to hear more or receive a product demo, get in touch.
