I¹m jumping in very late in the game here, but I would love to be involved in this discussion (I¹ll even join LITA!). Here at UofT, we¹ve done some work in this area that could be worth sharing. We¹re in the process of creating guidelines for many of the topics mentioned below, so it would be great to learn from others, collaborate, and share.
I like the idea of the UX IG; it¹s flexible and collegial, but still weighty enough to lend the content credibility. Lisa Gayhart | Digital Communications Services Librarian| University of Toronto Libraries | Information Technology Services | lisa.gayh...@utoronto.ca| 416-946-0959 On 2014-09-30, 3:19 PM, "Joshua Welker" <wel...@ucmo.edu> wrote: >Bohyun, > >That sounds like it could be a great fit. > >There would be two final products for what I have in mind: > >1. A wiki site (ideally attached to an ALA-affiliated domain name) where >we >can collaborate and break all this down at the topic level. This is the >source that would be used by the boots-on-the-ground librarians who are >actually doing UX work and need practical information. It would be >continually updated. The content would be curated, and there would be a >very >basic approval process for creating new editor accounts. > >2. An annually-revised document (again, attached to an ALA-affiliated >domain >name) that compiles everything from the wiki together in a format that can >easily be presented to other librarians and administrators. In my >experience, a bureaucratically approved document carries a lot more weight >in libraries than a website, at least in academic libraries. > >Topics that would be addressed: > >1. Accessibility >2. Layout patterns >3. Typography and readability >4. Best practices for specific library web platforms >5. Recommendations for how libraries should implement the guidelines at a >management level (non-technical) > >Josh Welker > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of >Kim, >Bohyun >Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:42 PM >To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides >v2 - >Templates and Nav) > >Jumping into this discussion late. Just wanted to let everyone know that >LITA UX IG would be more than happy to provide a venue for this type of >discussion since it would fit the interest of UX IG perfectly. (I am >chairing the IG this year; ping me if that sounds interesting and if there >is anything LITA UX IG can help.) LITA IGs are super flexible. > >Cheers, >Bohyun > > >-- >Bohyun Kim, MA, MSLIS >Associate Director for Library Applications and Knowledge Systems >University >of Maryland, Baltimore Health Sciences and Human Services Library > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of >Megan O'Neill Kudzia >Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:24 PM >To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides >v2 - >Templates and Nav) > >I've been following with interest, and I think some really important >points >are coming out here. > >John, what you said about Tomcat vs. Jetty really resonated with me - >maybe >this is *yet another* place where we could split this thread, but I think >for those of us straddling the gap between web design and web development, >something like a reference guide for what the questions to ask even are, >would be extremely helpful. > >As you said, the answer to many many questions is, "it depends," and >knowledge of those topics comes with experience. However, maybe (and I >volunteer to help with this project, inasmuch as I can) a sort of >expansion >of the Guide for the Perplexed would be really useful for those of us who >are no longer total beginners, but are sort of struggling to level up? > >That is, those of us with some experience of various projects could >contribute anything public-share-able from our post mortem project >conversations, relevant to each type of project? It's something I've been >thinking about for some time, and I'm still not sure what an optimal >structure would be, but I keep thinking it would be a really worthwhile >project. > >I will also say that everything I've found on alistapart and libux has >been >incredibly useful! > >On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 11:05 AM, Joshua Welker <wel...@ucmo.edu> wrote: > >> How many folks following this discussion are LITA members? Would >> anyone be willing to join LITA to be a part of an interest group on >> this subject? I will renew my membership in LITA if that is the best >>route >> to take. >> >> Josh Welker >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf >> Of Cindi Blyberg >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:46 AM >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >> LibGuides v2 >> - >> Templates and Nav) >> >> Oh, and if UX doesn't fit, y'all can establish the LITA Web Standards >> IG, or the LITA Code4Lib Web Best Practices IG, or whatever you want >> to call it. >> You need 10 LITA Member signatures: >> >> >> http://www.ala.org/lita/sites/ala.org.lita/files/content/about/manual/ >> forms/e5-igformation.pdf >> >> >> http://www.ala.org/lita/about/igs >> >> On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 10:44 AM, Cindi Blyberg <cindi...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> > *puts on LITA hat* >> > >> > There are several ways that LITA/ALA could play a role here. >> > >> > Publications: >> > There is a series of books called LITA Guides. Great way to get the >> > word out widely, but a static format. >> > http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=lita >> > >> > There are also Library Technology Reports - a periodical. Still >> > static, but published more regularly: >> > http://alatechsource.org/ltr/index >> > >> > There is also the LITA UX Interest Group. IGs are fluid, >> > volunteer-run (not appointed), and can pretty much do what they want. >> > Publish and update something? Sure! Establish and run a virtual >> > conference? Definitely! Have meetings and programs at conferences? >>Yes! >> > Caveat: must be a LITA member. >> > >> > Happy to provide more info if needed. >> > >> > -Cindi >> > of the many hats >> > >> > On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 10:34 AM, Joshua Welker <wel...@ucmo.edu> >>wrote: >> > >> >> I definitely agree that we should adhere to larger web standards >> >> and that we should actively discourage conventions that libraries >> >> have adopted over the years that have nothing to do with wider >> >> standards and best practices (e.g. >> >> tabbed search boxes, content in sidebar regions). In fact, much of >> >> our work would just be bringing together information from several >> >> standards into a common location and putting a "librarian" stamp of >> >> approval on it. >> >> >> >> Some topics I had in mind: >> >> >> >> -Accessibility standards: screen readers, color blindness, keyboard >> >> navigation, alt tags, etc. >> >> -Text: readable fonts, colors, text alignment -Page layout: >> >> navigation location, sidebars, headings and subheadings, search box >> >> designs, database pages, mobile friendliness -Best practices for >> >> specific library platforms: LibGuides, DSpace, etc. >> >> >> >> Some official name would be required, of course. I also think it >> >> would be great if we could write a draft, bring it to an official >> >> ALA group like LITA, and get them to adopt it after making their own >> >> tweaks. >> >> >> >> Josh Welker >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On >> >> Behalf Of Michael Schofield >> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:01 AM >> >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >> >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >> >> LibGuides >> >> v2 - >> >> Templates and Nav) >> >> >> >> I am interested but I am a little hazy about what kind of standards >> >> you all are suggesting. I would warn against creating standards >> >> that conflict with any actual web standards, because I--and, I >> >> think, many others--would honestly recommend that the #libweb >> >> should aspire to and adhere more firmly to larger web standards and >> >> best practices that conflict with something that's more, ah, >> >> librarylike. Although that might not be what you folks have in mind >>at >> >> all : ). >> >> >> >> Michael S. >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On >> >> Behalf Of Brad Coffield >> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:30 AM >> >> To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU >> >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >> >> LibGuides >> >> v2 - >> >> Templates and Nav) >> >> >> >> Josh, thanks for separating this topic out and starting this new >> >> thread. I don't know of any such library standards that exist on >> >> the web. I agree that this sounds like a great idea. As for this >> >> group or not... why not! >> >> It's 2014 and they don't exist yet and they would be incredibly >> >> useful for many libraries, if not all. Now all we need is a cool >> 'working >> >> group' >> >> title >> >> for ourselves and we're halfway done! Right??? >> >> >> >> But seriously, I'd love to help. >> >> >> >> Brad >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Brad Coffield, MLIS >> >> Assistant Information and Web Services Librarian Saint Francis >> >> University >> >> 814-472-3315 >> >> bcoffi...@francis.edu >> >> >> > >> > >> > > > >-- >Megan (O'Neill) Kudzia >Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian Stockwell-Mudd Library >Albion >College >602 E. Cass St. >Albion, MI 49224
