As library patrons move online, librarians must move instructional content online to join them. One means of educating library users is to meet them on their computers with electronic tutorials. Electronic tutorials may be used for various instructional tasks such as teaching users about the basic elements of a library catalog, pointing out the finer features of a specialty database, or providing a step-by-step procedure for a specific task. In addition to the complexity of creating content, developing an electronic tutorial may be an intimidating task to some librarians, especially to those less comfortable with technology. This article seeks to ease concerns by streamlining the tutorial creation process. First, the article will discuss strategies and initial issues to be considered. Issues include identifying the staff available, the audience, the objectives and outcomes, the desired level of interactivity, the instruction style, informational content, design content, storyboarding, target length, and evaluation. Next, the article proposes a set of criteria for evaluating tutorial creation software and then applies the criteria to selected user-friendly products. The software falls into three categories: movie-based, Web-based, and podcasting. Movie-based software to be evaluated includes Camtasia, Captivate, Snapz, iShowU, and Wink. Web-based software includes Microsoft Producer and ReadyGo Mobile. Podcasting tools Audacity and Hipcast are also reviewed. The article concludes with suggested tips for tutorial creation. By identifying the initial considerations, developing an eye for critiquing software, reviewing software currently on the market, and following best practices, the author hopes to guide the librarian to a successful electronic tutorial.

Purpose For many years, the librarians at University of Wyoming’s George William Hopper Law Library fielded questions about the history of the law school and alumni. Unfortunately, no one collection of institutional historical documents was available to search for relevant answers. The result was a decision to collect historic materials in a digital archive to make them available to anyone in the law school who might field such inquiries and to preserve them for future interest. The purpose of this case study is to provide a blueprint for building a digital archives from the ground up. Design/methodology/approach The digital archive began with print-born historical documents, scanned as preservation copies and entered into a database of images and files to which searchable metadata could be added. In addition to historical materials, it was important to collect the materials that the law school and the law library were producing. Therefore, the project was twofold: collect, preserve and make searchable the printed historic materials in a digital environment and harvest, preserve and make searchable print-born and digital-born materials as part of an ongoing process. To do this, appropriate software had to be identified. Findings The following steps blueprint the building of an archive on a digital platform: establish the site’s internet address, title and description; select a look and feel template and personalize the archive; create collections; identify Dublin Core preferences; add items and files using controlled vocabulary; experiment with any available plugins; and promote and provide access to the archive. Originality/value The digital archives project initiated by the library has led to other initiatives and opportunities for service.

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