[WEB4LIB] RE: Politics (was library jargon, which was "Our us ability test...")

[Kraemer, Beth]

With all the variations in terminology (and layout) *between* library web
sites, no wonder users are confused!  Way back when, you could walk into a
new library for the first time, find the "card catalog" and start searching.
How about a "Standards of Library Web Design" conference...

*******************************************
Beth Kraemer
Electronic Resources
2-1 William T. Young Library           
University of Kentucky



-----Original Message-----
From: N. Lynn Schlatter [mailto:lschlatt at smlnet.sml.lib.la.us] 
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 10:20 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: Politics (was library jargon, which was "Our
usability test...")


One of the things that has made me envious of the people responding on this
thread is that they seem to be able to place users' needs ahead of
everything else for web design decisions.  If only...

Here's the reality at my place.  Our public library web site now has a very
simple (one might even say "austere") gateway.  Previously, every time I put
a new link on the front page, four other people wanted their information
there as well.  Job Openings, Poem of the Day, Building Program, Board of
Control, etc.  For the sake of employment security, I stopped trying to
referee what was really important enough for the front page and kicked them
all off.

BTW, I keep looking for a "Politics of Web Design" conference and never find
one ;-).

Lynn Schlatter
Instructional Coordinator
Shreve Memorial Library
www.shreve-lib.org



-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On
Behalf Of Robert Kalabus
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 2:07 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: library jargon (was "Our usability test...")


<snip>

Maybe that could be an advertising campaign:  SCROLLING BEATS CLICKING
EVERYTIME.

Personally, I hate gateway pages and prefer to have access to everything at
once.  Web sites should be designed to be convenient and fast for
experienced users as well as explanatory enough for the inexperienced ones.

Robert Kalabus
Hay Library
Western Wyoming Community College

<snip>