Odum Library Web site Honored by ACRL

VALDOSTA - Odum Library website was selected as the “College Library Web site of the Month” for September 2009 by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL).

The Communications Committee of the ACRL's College Libraries Sections requires a distinguished Web site to not only enhance access to library resources but also operate as a primary channel for communication with current and future users. The Gertrude Gilmer Odum Library's Web site was chosen for its innovative layout, effective four-square design, which provides users with access to a variety of topics and intuitive tabbed browsing options.

University Librarian Dr. George Gaumond said he believes dedication to continuous improvement set VSU's site apart from the others. Over the past five years the library’s pages have undergone continuous revisions based on assessments from focus groups, user observations and surveys.

"Each of these assessments has given us more information about what students, faculty and staff need from the Odum Library Web site, and insight into how they naturally search for information," Gaumond said. "Our website is one of the largest on campus and it includes videos, tutorials, online exhibits, photographic collections, subject guides and a variety of other information. All of this is coordinated by librarians and staff members who are dedicated to bring up-to-date information to library Web site users.”

Odum Library's use of social networking resources, like Facebook, online chat and blogging, shows the staff's commitment to innovative communication with its users -- one of the primary reasons ACRL has chosen to highlight the site.

Once selected, Web sites are listed on the College Libraries Section's Web site with a brief summary outlining the reasons for their selection. View the brief on Odum Library's site at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/about/sections/cls/websiteofthemonth/#guidelines .
Check out the award winning site at http://www.valdosta.edu/library/ .