StaffGuide: LibApps Guide

Guidance and tips for working with Springshare LibApps

What Is LibWizard? And Why is it Lite?

LibWizard  allows you to create simple forms or more complex surveys that can then be embedded in your LibGuides, LibCal events,  or other web pages. You can also use a simple link to access a form or survey created in LibWizard.

Want to see LibWizard in action? We've been using them for some time on our  trials survey.

Responses to LibWizard forms and surveys are stored  within LibApps and can accessed and exported at any time. You can also set a form or survey to email you a notice whenever a user submits a response, as well as to scrub personal information after a certain amount of time. 

You can use LibWizard to:

  • create simple pre- or post-tests in your classroom instruction
  • create quick student polls on a Research Guides, a research tool, or other items you wish to evaluate
  • create interactive tutorials for classes or student worker training
  • create signup forms for events or groups

LibWizard offers four different kinds of functions:

  • Forms are simple questionnaires.
  • Surveys can be multiple pages and have branching logic that offers different choices based on user responses.
  • Quizzes allow you to set criteria for pass / fail, moving on to the next section, etc.
  • Tutorials allow you to embed live webpages in an iframe, use navigation, and more.

Both forms and surveys can have:

  • simple text entry fields
  • longer comment fields
  • radio buttons (one valid choice from an array)
  • checkboxes (multiple valid choices from an array)
  • drop-down lists
  • file upload fields

Alternatives

LibWizard is pretty keen but it is not as sophisticated as a professional survey tool such as Qualtrics from the University of Arkansas IT Services. 

 

Planning Your Forms and Surveys

Is this survey necessary?

Let's face it, we all suffer from survey fatigue. Ask yourself if the information is really needed and just how many questions are needed to allow you to move forward.
Consider breaking larger survey projects up into smaller chunks, say, one topic a month.

Do my colleagues know about this survey?

Be sure and check with your director before launching an extensive public services survey. No only will he or she want to know about your project and how it might intersect with other library initiatives, but also you give him or her a chance to offer feedback and suggestions to make your project even better.

Am I going to use this information for publications or presentations?

This question is very important for compliance with University research policies. If you are administering any quizzes or questionnaires that could later be used in your research, do complete the initial review forms for the University Institutional Review Board (IRB). It's good practice, doesn't take long, and helps you think systematically about the broader objectives of your survey.

The IRB may well deem your survey to be exempt in which case  you can proceed with your survey immediately. Non-exempt requests may have to wait for the next scheduled meeting of the IRB for review.

Using a Form or Survey

In LibGuides

There is a content type in LibGuides for: LibWizard Item.  Simply click to a box add content, choose LibWizard Item, and then select the form or survey you wish to add.  

In LibCal

Create a post-event survey which can then be emailed to your registered participants.  Create the LibWizard Survey first, then add it to the Send Follow Up Email/Survey section of your event.  This option has to be a survey and not a form. 

Widgets and Links 

After saving, click the Share button to get a widget code that you can embed in web pages or Research Guides.

The Direct link can also be placed in Research Guides.

Viewing Responses

Viewing Responses

Click on the Forms, Surveys, Quizzes, or Tutorals Home on the orange toolbar to view responses. 

You will see a list of your items on the system.  Click the number of responses  to view responses.

You can export results to a spreadsheet.  

Survey results in LibWizard

Patron Privacy Settings

IP, Referrer, and Browser

Options for capturing these values can be found under Settings > Reporting.

In general, this information is not needed unless one is providing technical troubleshooting. 

Privacy Scrub

LibWizard can remove personal information from specified fields after 12 months.  Each of your LibWizard forms, surveys, quizzes, and tutorials con be configured separately for privacy scrub.  Best practice is to remove names, emails, and phone numbers unless you have a compelling business reason for retaining that data. 

To Configure Privacy Scrub

  1. Navigate to the form, survey, quiz, or tutorial in LibWizard
  2. Look for the Settings Tab on the upper right
  3. Look for the menu item on the left for “Configure Privacy Scrub
    NOT all tutorials, quizzes etc will have any fields to scrub.  Because you may not be collecting any information. 
  4. Specify the fields to be scrubbed by changing them to “yes” and click Save.