Lane Library's Knowledge Base of Frequently Asked Questions
by Heidi Heilemann
In December, Lane Medical Library released a searchable knowledge base of frequently asked questions to answer FAQs on services, applications, and policies at Lane. You can find answers to such questions as:
- How can I add a series of photos to PowerPoint all at once?
- What are Lane's hours?
- How do I save my search strategies for future use?
In the last year, Lane Medical Library has been making significant changes to its infrastructure and services. To keep current with these changes, staff and users identified the need for a central repository of questions and answers to provide self-paced instruction at the point of need...anytime, anywhere.
The content of the knowledge base is regularly updated by library staff and includes information on:
- Library policies: e.g., printing costs, ordering documents they don't own
- How to use applications : e.g., tips for PowerPoint, how to optimize images
- Facts: e.g., library hours, directions to the library
- Services: e.g., registering for workshops, consulting with your liaison
In the first phase of content addition, library staff composed answers to the most common questions from circulation and reference desks diaries, from new services being announced in Fall and Winter Quarters, and from the library's workshop curriculum.
The software behind the FAQ knowledge base is Moveable Type, which provides a simple editing interface. The XML file generated from Moveable Type is transformed into the graphical interface of the Lane web site, where users can browse categories or search by keyword.
If you have questions or suggestions about the FAQ knowledge base, please contact Lane Medical Library at lanelibrary@stanford.edu or 650-723-6831.
