Course guides are created for a particular Oakton course and typically used in "one-shot" library class. Some details:
They are retired (unpublished) after the following semester.
They are labeled by semester in the "subject" field e.g., Course Guides Spring 2023
New Course Guides should be copied from older guides if the older guide belongs to another librarian, then updated
Topic guides are for special-topics and meant to guide students researching this topic. They are specific and relevant. Some details:
Topic guides should do more than suggest databases and links, though they should also do this
Topic guides should serve as a sort of starter-annotated bibliography. This is conceptual; they should not be in this format.
Topic guides' audience are students new to the topic, though advanced material can be provided
Topic guides should be owned by the same librarian that owns the subject most closely matching the guide ie., the owner of Political Science owns "Elections and Voting"
Subject guides are meant to guide students generally who are researching in a specific academic discipline or career/professional field. Some details:
If we offer a major, pathway, or certificate, we should have an accompanying subject guide (unless it's deemed unnecessary)
We do not offer subject guides in subjects for which we don't have a major, academic department, pathway, or certificate
Subject guides should point students to suggested resources in that subject while avoiding overly-general resources e.g., links to Google search