🎒ACT Subject Guides

Subject guides are essential tools for academic research, offering curated resources on specific topics. Created by librarians and subject specialists, these guides serve as starting points for students and faculty, directing them to relevant databases, websites, and materials within their field of study. From general subject guides to course-specific and topic-based guides, these resources come in various forms to meet diverse research needs. Effective guides are user-friendly, well-organized, and regularly updated, providing valuable support for developing research skills and navigating complex information landscapes.

What Are Subject Guides?

  • Subject guides provide curated resources and information on specific topics or disciplines
  • Serve as starting points for research by directing users to relevant databases, websites, and other materials
  • Typically created by librarians or subject specialists to support the research needs of students and faculty
  • Offer a centralized location for accessing key resources in a particular field of study
  • Help users navigate the vast amount of information available and identify the most authoritative sources
  • Often tailored to the specific needs and curriculum of an institution or department
  • Can be used as teaching tools to help students develop research skills and information literacy

Types of Subject Guides

  • General subject guides cover broad disciplines (social sciences, humanities, natural sciences)
  • Course-specific guides align with the content and assignments of a particular course
  • Guides for specific assignments provide targeted resources for research papers, projects, or presentations
  • Topic-based guides focus on narrower subjects within a discipline (Civil War, climate change, impressionism)
  • Guides for specific user groups cater to the needs of undergraduate students, graduate students, or faculty
  • Multi-disciplinary guides highlight resources relevant to interdisciplinary studies or emerging fields
  • Guides featuring specific resource types (primary sources, data sets, images, videos)

Creating Effective Subject Guides

  • Collaborate with faculty and students to identify key resources and research needs
  • Focus on quality over quantity when selecting resources to include
  • Organize resources in a logical, user-friendly manner (by resource type, subtopic, or research process)
  • Provide annotations or descriptions to help users evaluate the relevance and credibility of each resource
  • Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon or technical terms
  • Incorporate visual elements (images, videos, infographics) to engage users and break up text
  • Ensure the guide is accessible and compatible with various devices and screen readers
  • Seek feedback from users and make iterative improvements based on their needs and experiences

Key Components and Structure

  • Introduction or overview of the subject area and the purpose of the guide
  • List of key databases and online resources for finding articles, books, and other materials
  • Sections for different subtopics or aspects of the subject (historical background, current research, related fields)
  • Recommendations for print resources (reference books, seminal works, textbooks)
  • Information about relevant library services (research consultations, interlibrary loan, workshops)
  • Contact information for subject librarians or specialists who can provide further assistance
  • Links to related guides or resources for further exploration

Research Strategies and Tools

  • Provide tips for developing effective search strategies (keyword selection, Boolean operators, truncation)
  • Highlight subject-specific databases and explain their strengths and limitations
  • Include guidance on evaluating the credibility and authority of sources
  • Recommend citation management tools (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) and provide instructions for their use
  • Offer advice on staying organized throughout the research process (note-taking, outlining, version control)
  • Link to tutorials or guides on using specific databases or research tools

Evaluating and Updating Guides

  • Regularly review guides to ensure that links are functioning and resources are still relevant
  • Monitor usage statistics and user feedback to identify areas for improvement
  • Update guides to reflect changes in curriculum, research trends, or available resources
  • Collaborate with faculty to ensure that guides align with course requirements and assignments
  • Conduct usability testing to assess the effectiveness of the guide's organization and navigation
  • Develop a maintenance schedule to ensure that guides are consistently reviewed and updated

Promoting and Using Subject Guides

  • Integrate guides into library instruction sessions and workshops
  • Collaborate with faculty to promote guides through course syllabi, learning management systems, and assignments
  • Use social media and email marketing to raise awareness of guides among students and researchers
  • Provide links to guides from the library website's homepage or research portal
  • Encourage librarians and staff to recommend guides during reference interactions
  • Gather feedback from users to understand how guides are being used and what improvements could be made
  • Monitor usage statistics to track the popularity and effectiveness of different guides

Subject Guide Best Practices

  • Start with a clear understanding of the audience and their research needs
  • Focus on curating the most relevant and authoritative resources, rather than providing an exhaustive list
  • Use a consistent format and design across all guides to enhance usability and brand recognition
  • Organize resources in a way that aligns with the research process or course curriculum
  • Provide context and guidance to help users make the most of the resources included
  • Ensure that guides are accessible and usable on a variety of devices and platforms
  • Collaborate with stakeholders (faculty, students, other librarians) throughout the creation and maintenance process
  • Assess and update guides regularly to maintain their relevance and effectiveness


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.