Simple Web Site Redesign Simple Web Site Redesign Tim Daniels & Darin Givens, GPLSTim Daniels & Darin Givens, GPLS

Defining Goals for Site Defining Goals for Site Redesign Redesign 

• Usability TestingUsability Testing

• Mission StatementMission Statement

Usability TestingUsability Testing

Observe volunteers Observe volunteers and take detailed and take detailed notes on successes notes on successes and failuresand failures

Usability TestingUsability Testing

• Have volunteers answer specific questions Have volunteers answer specific questions and locate informationand locate information

• Provide a brief user Provide a brief user survey for volunteers survey for volunteers to fill outto fill out

Mission StatementMission Statement

• Why are you doing a study/redesignWhy are you doing a study/redesign

• How do your site goals fit in with your How do your site goals fit in with your library mission statement?library mission statement?

Tools for Usability TestingTools for Usability Testing

Usability Testing ResourcesUsability Testing Resourceshttp://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/campbhttp://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/campbell/hmiig/usabres2.htmell/hmiig/usabres2.htm

  

Library Usability BibliographyLibrary Usability Bibliographyhttp://www.lib.ncsu.edu/usability/library-http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/usability/library-usability.htmlusability.html

Making Content the KingMaking Content the King

• Web standards for accessibility Web standards for accessibility 

• Auditing your web content Auditing your web content 

• Navigation developmentNavigation development

• Jargon Jargon

• Managing content deliveryManaging content delivery

• Content management systemsContent management systems

Web Standards for Accessibility Web Standards for Accessibility 

• Benefits a wide array of users with special Benefits a wide array of users with special needs including those with limited visionneeds including those with limited vision

• Also benefits people without disabilities, Also benefits people without disabilities, such as those with slow internet such as those with slow internet connections and people using hand held connections and people using hand held browsing devicesbrowsing devices

Web Standards TipsWeb Standards Tips

• Use ALT tags for all imagesUse ALT tags for all images

• Use logical text for hyperlinksUse logical text for hyperlinks

• Use CSS for layout and styleUse CSS for layout and style

Audit content Audit content 

• Print out every page of site, highlight what Print out every page of site, highlight what to keep and discardto keep and discard

• Assess the content of every page to make Assess the content of every page to make sure it's up to datesure it's up to date

Navigation Navigation Make it easyMake it easy

for users tofor users to

find whatfind what

they'rethey're

looking forlooking for

Navigation : Card SortingNavigation : Card Sorting

Use index cards to build a site mapUse index cards to build a site map

JargonJargon

JargonJargon

We will use XML, CSS, and RSS -We will use XML, CSS, and RSS -combined with XHTML for combined with XHTML for accessibility - to create a modular, accessibility - to create a modular, re-mixable, and sticky OPAC that re-mixable, and sticky OPAC that incorporates Web 2.0 technologies incorporates Web 2.0 technologies to provide patrons an online social to provide patrons an online social environment in which to interact environment in which to interact with our virtual presence.with our virtual presence.

Managing Content DeliveryManaging Content Delivery

• Who will update your content?Who will update your content?

• How often will it be updated?How often will it be updated?

Content Management SystemsContent Management Systems

• Easily change the content and formatting Easily change the content and formatting of your site via a browser windowof your site via a browser window

• Ease of use allows for more frequent Ease of use allows for more frequent updatesupdates

• Drupal and Joomla can be used out of the Drupal and Joomla can be used out of the box to create simple sitesbox to create simple sites

Example CMSExample CMS

• Dekalb: Dekalb: http://www.dekalblibrary.org/index.phphttp://www.dekalblibrary.org/index.php

• Kinchafoonee Regional Library SystemKinchafoonee Regional Library Systemhttp://www.krlibrary.org/http://www.krlibrary.org/

Content -- ToolsContent -- Tools

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)http://www.w3.org/WAI/http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Library terms evaluated in usability tests and Library terms evaluated in usability tests and other studiesother studieshttp://www.jkup.net/terms-studies.htmlhttp://www.jkup.net/terms-studies.html

Inviting User Participation Inviting User Participation

•   blogsblogs

•   wikiwiki

•   meebomeebo

Patrons can trace threads

Tell folks how to use the tool

The know who I am

When can I use this service

How to get an IM account

What’s special about this page?