Hi Debra,
I'd be interested in the mobile lab results - I've been toying with that
idea as well.
Would love to see what results you get in terms of how users react to
different search interfaces.
We've written a couple of papers/done presentations on on this very
topic; we've been
especially been interested in how the tabbed approach to hiding our
silos of information works for end users.
From my research, end users are still having problems distinguishing
between the catalog and articles tab.
Best,
Susan
Debra A Kurtz wrote:
we have similar issues at duke. for redesigns that i've led i remind them
often that user-centered design means that we serve the patron (faculty,
students, and staff beyond the libraries). i point out that there are
resources like intranet and aleph for staff to find work-related
information and conduct more advanced catalog searches (can't search call
numbers in our endeca interface). staff are more supportive of this than
they were when i got here three years ago but they still ask for things
like more prominent links to the duke homepage and to the staff directory.
one way to generate buy-in is to ask them for help writing questions,
conducting testing, and analyzing feedback from assessment activities.
admittedly, i tend to get the same four (wonderful) people but i remain
hopeful about eventually engaging others. :-)
we've also diffused some dissatifisfaction with the u/i to our
implementation of endeca a couple of summers ago by conducting focus
groups for staff. i find this a more efficient way to get staff feedback.
we found that most of the concerns were valid and because they were
largely cosmetic we were able to make changes to the css to address those
issues quickly.
finally (sorry i get chatty on fridays) we have recently upgraded our
mobile usability testing hardware and created an on-site lab. we have
several activities planned for the fall and next spring having to do with
our search interfaces. we'll post notes on activitites and findings if
anyone's interested. i'd also be interested in sharing info with
libraries who've already conducted studies on their faceted searching user
interfaces and/or have explored implementing a single search feature.
have a great weekend-
debra
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Debra Hanken Kurtz
Head, Digital Projects Department
Perkins Library
919.660.5888
POB 90198
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0198
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beth Black <[email protected]>
Sent by: Code for Libraries <[email protected]>
09/18/09 08:57 AM
Please respond to
Code for Libraries <[email protected]>
To
[email protected]
cc
Subject
Re: [CODE4LIB] Library Website Redesign Info and Project Plans
I second Susan's point that user testing is the way to balance the staff
v.
user perspective. We had tests(or methods of providing input, like
surveys)
with BOTH groups, sometimes the same one but had people identify to which
group they belonged. This way we had data to back up our assertions that
library staff want different things from a library website than the other
user groups.
Beth
Beth Black
Systems Librarian and Assistant Professor
Head, Web Implementation Team
Ohio State University Libraries
610 Ackerman Rd, Room 5855
Columbus, Ohio 43202-4500
(614) 688-5428
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
Susan Teague Rector
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library Website Redesign Info and Project Plans
Oh, I forgot to mention (Eric's post just reminded me of this) that I've
found user testing to be the best way to balance that staff v. user
perspective issue. You probably already know this, but I thought I'd at
least throw it out there. Even if you do "guerilla" user testing, at
least you have some data to use when you meet with staff, who often have
a different perspective on what should be on the homepage :D
- susan
Rosalyn Metz wrote:
Susan and Beth,
I'd love to see a project plan and/or write up if you have one. I'm
really curious how people handle the gathering information piece and
balance staff v. user perspectives. And I'm sure as I begin actually
writing a plan I'll be curious about many of the other things people
did.
Rosalyn
On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 7:32 AM, susan teague rector <[email protected]>
wrote:
I second David's book choice - I've done 3 redesigns at my library
(we're
on
the 3rd right now) and i have referred to the process in this book
countless
times.
I typically follow an iterative approach to writing and executing my
project
plans; however, it's difficult to get away from traditional waterfall
methodology and our plans sometimes fall back into that mold - I can
send
you a copy of a proj. plan if you're interested
Cheers,
Susan
VCU Libraries
http://www.library.vcu.edu | http://www.library.vcu.edu/redesign
Walker, David wrote:
My wife really likes "Web Redesign: Workflow that Works", by Kelly
Goto
&
Emily Cotler.
The second edition is called Web Redesign 2.0.
http://www.web-redesign.com/
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57641137
--Dave
==================
David Walker
Library Web Services Manager
California State University
http://xerxes.calstate.edu
________________________________________
From: Code for Libraries [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jason
Stirnaman [[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library Website Redesign Info and Project
Plans
I just came across this yesterday:
http://johncrenshaw.net/blog/web-development-project-process-workflow/
Very high-level and usual systems design approach, but with some good
web-specific tips thrown in.
Sean Hannan <[email protected]> 09/16/09 10:20 AM >>>
We're currently in the middle of a library website redesign as well.
For the most part, we have framed our project using Jesse James
Garrett's The Elements of User Experience
(https://wiki.library.jhu.edu/download/attachments/30737/elements.pdf
). It has been immensely helpful in plotting out our work from the
User Experience touchy-feely end to the Information Architecture to
the visual design and implementation.
-Sean
---
Sean Hannan
Web Developer
Sheridan Libraries
Johns Hopkins University
On Sep 16, 2009, at 10:52 AM, Rosalyn Metz wrote:
Hi All,
I'm about to embark on a library website redesign. I've started
thinking about creating a project plan, but I honestly don't know
where to start.
I saw this website redesign presentation Lorcan Dempsey tweeted
about:
http://www.ucd.ie/library/guides/powerpoint/rpan_ppt2/index.swf And
started thinking, I wonder if anyone else has similar slides or
project plans or advice. I of course asked the Google but I didn't
really find any project plans. (If you're curious what I did find,
take a look here:
http://delicious.com/rosy1280/library+website-redesign)
I do of course realize that every library is different, but I'm
hoping
that any information you all might be able to provide could help get
the juices flowing.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Rosalyn
Rosalyn
