Check Out New Interactive InfoGuides

by Scott Watkins, Library, Head of Educational Services

Students in need of research assistance have a new set of tools at their disposal. This fall, Mason Libraries announced the launch of InfoGuides, a set of online resources designed to facilitate the research process for students seeking information in particular academic disciplines. InfoGuides will replace the static subject guide pages that the Libraries have previously maintained on the Web with more dynamic and interactive content that is developed and maintained by subject specialist librarians.

InfoGuides are meant to help alleviate the problem of not knowing where to look for information on a subject, by collecting and organizing numerous useful resources in one location. A student who is not sure how to begin looking for information on a subject can start by consulting that subject’s InfoGuide. Currently, there are about 100 different guides available, and development is ongoing.

In addition to their information content, InfoGuides also provide a number of interactive features for users, such as the ability to chat with librarians in real time, subscribe to e-mail alerts, participate in polls, rate resources, and leave comments inside guides.

JC Library expands to Writing Center: research and writing are two components of academic work that go hand in hand and, beginning this semester, the Johnson Center Library is partnering with the Writing Center to provide expanded writing and research assistance to students. Students can get help with finding appropriate resources, navigating the library’s databases and ejournals, citing sources correctly, quoting and paraphrasing, and more. Writing Center tutors are in the JC Library on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 pm, and library staff is on hand at the Writing Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:00 pm.