Library wins a 2019 Library Reference Award

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At the 5th Library Reference Service Awards on November 12, the Kyushu University Library received the Library Advancement Foundation Award for its web-based learning guide, "Cute.Guides."

Founded in 2015, the Library Reference Service Awards recognize excellence and innovation in reference services that provide information meeting the needs of library users. This year, Kyushu University Library submitted “Problem-solving support by Web-Based Learning Guide ‘Cute.Guides’” as an approach to increase the utilization of its reference services.

Available on the library website since March 2013 and open to the public, Cute.Guides provide overviews and introductions into various topics useful for learning and research. With Library TAs—called “Cuters”—playing a central role in creating the articles, 170 guides were available as of November 12, 2019, of which 129 were created by Cuters.

Based on presentations by three short-list candidates selected from 22 applicants on the first day of the 21st Library Fair held at Pacifico Yokohama from November 12 to 14, the Kyushu University Library was selected for the Library Advancement Foundation Award, one of the categories of the Library Reference Service Awards.

“It is encouraging that the collaboration of the librarians and Cuters has been recognized as an excellent example of reference services,” said Nami Hoshiko, chief of the Learning and Research Support Section of the Library.

“We will continue to produce new guide articles so that Cute.Guides can be utilized for lifelong learning and solving local issues, not only for the university members but also for the general public.”

While the guides are nearly all in Japanese at this time, the library is hoping to increase the number of offerings in English in the future.

Serving over 18,000 students and overseeing one of the largest university collections in Japan, the library aims to continue expanding its programs such as Cute.Guides to actively support students’ studies and play a key role in the educational experience at Kyushu University.

Cute.Guides:https://guides.lib.kyushu-u.ac.jp/
Sadao Uematsu, executive director of the Library Advancement Foundation, presents a certificate of commendation to Nami Hoshiko, chief of the Learning and Research Support Section of the Library.
Cuters are graduate students working with librarians to support learning at Kyushu University. As of November 2019, 16 graduate students were working at the library's learning support desk and library workshops.

Contact

Learning and Research Support Section, Kyushu University Library
Mail: toesupport@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp / TEL: +81-92-802-2483

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