Springshare Web 2.0 Library Guides

Springshare Web 2.0 Library Guides are basically a solution for libraries that want to draw together many of the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 tools available in an easy, user-friendly manner. Springshare seems to suit academic and school libraries best, as the main feature of Springshare is the Library Guides which aid students in their research, however there are many other useful interactive features that would suit a public library too.

Users can rate each library guide which is great to get user input and track usage. You can add librarian profiles which might help to personalise the library and add a human face to the library online. There is also inbuilt reporting functionality. This video illustrates many of the features
LibGuides Intro from Springshare on Vimeo. The downside is that Springshare isn't free, unlike many Web 2.0 tools, but at around US $800 or so, it is probably worth the (annual) cost. This is especially the case where the library (such as a public library) might be short of programmers: Springshare is so easy to use and does not require any programming skills to add content and functionality - it's just point and click stuff. There are free open sources equivalents however they seem to require greater IT knowledge to set up and maintain. Perhaps a public library version of Springshare might not be too far away (and less expensive). The Burlington County Library System is an example of a public library in the USA that is using Springshare and has 62 library guides!