Similarities:

• The LibGuide and pathfinder both give reputable journals in the field of nutrition.

• The Resource Guide and Nutrition Pathfinder both are a little more “user friendly,” while the LibGuide reads a little more for an academic audience.

Differences:

• The Resource Guide is definitely geared toward K-12 schools, where the Pathfinder and LibGuide are broader, for a wider audience.

 

           Personally, I think the LibGuide is the most effective guide to nutrition. The design is organized neatly and effectively, and is very self-explanatory how to use. There are easy to spot “ask a librarian” buttons for more help, if needed. It kept its audience in mind, and is clearly written to benefit college research students.

          The Resource Guide for California Public Schools is the least effective guide to nutrition. Its document is 242 pages, which is overwhelming from the start. The Table of Contents helps a little bit, but the links in the pdf form are not very many, so you have to scroll through quite a bit to find what you’re looking for. It’s good that it’s designed for a specific audience, but the Table of Contents needs to be updated with more specificity. Additionally, the state of California could collaborate with other states to see what their nutrition guides are like, to get ideas on how to improve. The state of California should also consider its audience and reading level. Right now, it reads like a textbook. Who is the audience? How can the resource guide be re-written for increased readability? Lastly, it might consider adding some active links to other nutritional resources.