Celebrating 18 Years of LibGuides: A Journey of Innovation

Origins of LibGuides: A New Era for Libraries

In 2007, the landscape of library resources was forever changed with the introduction of LibGuides, a revolutionary tool designed to create web-based, multimedia research guides. The innovation stemmed from a simple, yet profound understanding of what libraries needed—a turnkey solution to streamline the creation and distribution of research guides. The brainchild of Springshare, LibGuides quickly evolved from a novel idea into a staple for academic and public libraries around the world!

Temple University: The First to Embrace LibGuides

Temple University holds the distinction of being the first member of the LibGuides community. The university's early adoption was spearheaded by Steven Bell, who vividly recalls the excitement surrounding this new technology. By July 1, 2007, Temple University had moved from a demo site to a full-fledged customer, setting the stage for widespread adoption. Soon, librarians were eager to integrate LibGuides into their workflow and curate and simplify their web resources. 

The first LibGuide created by Temple University 🎉

How Libraries Welcomed LibGuides

LibGuides gathered steam quickly, with libraries immediately recognizing the potential for this tool to revolutionize their work. The rapid adoption can be attributed to LibGuides' user-friendly interface, robust features, and the ability to easily incorporate multimedia elements. This combination allowed libraries to engage with their users more effectively, making research more accessible and interactive. LibGuides has streamlined the process of updating and maintaining research guides and library websites, ensuring that your users have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Showcasing Notable LibGuides from the Community

Over the years, the LibGuides community has produced an array of creative and impactful guides. Some of our users have dedicated significant time to inventive projects spanning many years!

For example:

• There's the extremely popular March Mammal Madness guide from Arizona State University, which has been making science and biodiversity fun for over 12 years now. 
• Fairfax County Public Library has been updating a readers' advisory guide for over five years called My Perfect Read, which helps patrons connect with librarians who have similar reading tastes.
• Wayne State University Library has a Subject of the Month guide that has been meticulously maintained for over 13 years, highlighting library resources in an engaging format.

These examples spotlight LibGuides' versatility, allowing librarians to do what they do best—find creative ways to serve their communities!

The Road Ahead for LibGuides

As LibGuides celebrates its 18th anniversary, the future looks bright with endless possibilities for further innovation. Springshare continues to develop new features and improvements, ensuring that LibGuides remains at the forefront of library technology. To stay up to date with the latest (and soon-to-come) Springshare tool updates, register for our upcoming Webinar: New Springy Tools in Bloom. Don't miss out on what's coming in the next generation of LibGuides and beyond!