Standards and Guidelines: Essential

Read the following guide before you start creating your Guide:

• In LibApps go to Content > Guides OR Home and scroll down to the LibGuides Shortcuts box, then click Create Guide.
• Select the Copy content/layout from an existing guide option from the drop down menu and tick the radio button at Local Guides.  Then click Select a guide... and search for Template - Subject Guide Blank. Select the guide from the search results.
• Do not create a LibGuide by selecting 'Start fresh' at the 'Choose Layout or Reuse feature'.
• For further instructions refer to Library Guides Life Cycle - Creating a guide.

We can include our own content:

• Library Survey
• Library Services run online sessions directly relevant to the subject
• Library Sessions for Australian standards on trade guides
• Non-Library Services where there are direct links to resources relevant to the subject - i.e., Jobs Connect - Accounting resources (this is a proposed item November 2025)

What we don't include (except on Events and Promotions guides)

• General library services boxes - e.g., a box promoting Online Library Sessions in general
• Promotional weeks/months
• Non library services - i.e., advertising the counselling service on the Mental Health guide.
  • Exceptions are services promoted on Support Guides - i.e., Jobs Connect on the Job Seeking guide, IT help desk on the Technology for Learning Guide
• Lists/promotion of courses related to the subject

• Use title case for page names (page names in Page Properties only).
• Keep pages names as short as possible.
• Limit the number of pages in a guide (preferably one line of tabs).
• Ensure pages are of appropriate length (minimise scrolling).

• Check for existing assets before creating new ones.
• To locate an asset, go to Content>Assets and search for the asset you need to map to by title.
• The following asset types have a reusable asset option : Link, Media/Widget, Book from the Catalog, Document/File, RSS Feed and Poll.
• If you are updating assets, contact the asset owner.

• Preference should be given to the most current resources.
• Make sure you cover a decent number of libraries from at least three regions when selecting hardcopies.
• Check if the title is available online and include online copies if available, to ensure that as many users as possible can access the title. Be inclusive!
• If the course is run in only five or fewer locations, you may use resources that are only available in these locations.
• If unsure which resources to select from other libraries, contact them for advice.
• Unless an exception applies, place all items in alphabetical order, i.e. Topics pages, links in boxes.

• Hover over item title is the preferred option.
• Use Hover over item title for content items with cover art that have long descriptions, long link lists, lists of eJournals and eVideos.
• You may decide to use Display beneath item title if the descriptions are short and and your list is short. This option can also be used for items with cover art if the text does not wrap around the cover art.

• Use the Hover over 'info' icon option very sparingly but not with items that include cover art or for long lists because it looks very busy. Exception is a RSS feed. For RSS feeds the info icon is required.

Information that needs to be added to the title field:

Books and eBooks

Audio

eVideos and DVDs

Periodicals

Articles

Book chapters