Getting Onboard the Intranet

Over the past year, Georgia Southern University’s Libraries Website Committee built out and launched an internal libraries-only intranet in LibGuides. This presentation will cover the tech of that and the social and training aspects. To get the permissions working as we wanted (we wanted an intranet for just libraries employees that no one else could see) we scoped a standard basic set of permissions that every libraries employee gets, and we got SpringShare account setup written into the libraries onboarding checklist for all new hires, not just the reference librarians. Then, to launch this new use of LibGuides, we did outreach and training. We planned a 15 minute presentation, standardized follow up email to send after the training, and we presented training to each department within the libraries. That way, all employees, and not just the reference librarians, became familiar with using LibGuides. We also used LibCal to build out two internal tools: (1) An equipment reservation system for employees to reserve equipment such as folding tables, tablecloths, a portable sound system for events, easels, and other equipment used by employees across the libraries. And, (2) a save-the-date calendar which lets any employee planning an event check out what else is planned within the libraries and plan ahead to ensure space is available and to avoid conflicts with other events.