Thanks Ari and Robert: We've just redesigned the site (same content, new look) and now we're trying to identify content to add and shift it away from a brochure site to a content-driven site. But, since our visitors are currently older and don't use our existing website, we're trying to figure out exactly what people might want to do on the site. *I* have ideas, based on how other museums have done this, and various members of the staff want certain content on the site (we've identified this already), but I don't want to go full-steam ahead with generating that content at this moment if there is low interest by the public.
One of the staff generated a survey, but upon reading it, I feel that some of you may have already done this, and done it well enough that I can mooch off of you ;) Perian Sully Collection Information and New Media Coordinator Judah L. Magnes Museum -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Ari Davidow Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 10:48 AM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] website evaluations Perian, I don't have a specific survey to point to, but I think that it is early to be worrying about usability and the like, per se. Rather, you want to find out how your members (and any other stakeholders) use your existing site, what they aren't finding or wish was there, pages/tools on other museum sites that they would like to see on yours, etc. You then have to have a conversation with all relevant stakeholders to talk about the purpose of the website--what is it that you want to be using/should be using (in their opinion) the website for? (Among your stakeholders, obviously don't exclude yourself, or other knowledgeable folks who know the Magnes and the web and have ideas that are out of the current box, but might be fun/useful or both.) Once you have that sense of what the website should accomplish, and how it fits in with your overall branding and development work, you then want to focus on the nitty gritty. ari On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 12:54 PM, Robert Weiner <lists at rlweiner.com> wrote: > Dear Perian, > > Here are some articles about how to conduct a usability survey: > http://www.usabilitynet.org/tools/surveys.htm > http://www.archimuse.com/mw2001/papers/schweibenz/schweibenz.html > > And here is a sample survey: > http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/ocpl/resources/OMBClearance/ODOERGrantsSurvey. pdf > > Run a search for "web usability survey" (without the quotes) and you'll > find > lots. I didn't see many that are specific to museums, but many of the > issues are common - how easy is it to use the site, what image does it > project, and can you find what you are looking for? > > That said, here's an article on why it's more important to watch users than > to ask them for their opinions: > http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010805.html > > Robert > __________________________ > > Robert L. Weiner Consulting > Strategic Technology Advisors to Nonprofit and Educational Institutions > San Francisco, CA > > robert at rlweiner.com > 415/643-8955 > > www.rlweiner.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of > Perian Sully > Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 9:09 AM > To: Museum Computer Network Listserv > Subject: [MCN-L] website evaluations > > Hi all: > > > > We're redesigning our website and wanted to get a survey out for our > members, to help us determine the content and the structure of the new > site. Does anyone have a needs assessment survey or something like who > would be willing to share? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Perian Sully > > Collection Information and New Media Coordinator > > Judah L. Magnes Museum > > 2911 Russell St. > > Berkeley, CA 94705 > > Work: 510-549-6950 x 357 > > Fax: 510-849-3673 > > http://www.magnes.org > > http://www.musematic.org > > http://www.mediaandtechnology.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > > _______________________________________________ > You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer > Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > > To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > > To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: > http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l
