[Web4lib] Library Web site redesign

[Diana Myers Hyatt]

Thanks Deborah for taking a look at the sites. I've
done a little informal testing similar to your
suggestions, but plan to do some more and incorporate
some of your ideas for questions. I found a book  on
web usability testing that takes a similar approach
called, "Don't make me think". I should send a copy to
our IT department. 

I asked IT if they did any user testing and was told
they did not. When I mentioned it was hard to find
information, their web designer said, "They (the
users) will just have to figure it out." Kind of
scary. I'm hoping we can just go with my design. The
way I've designed it, it is easy to change and improve
as it grows.

--- Deborah Holmes-Wong <dhwong at usc.edu> wrote:

> Ask your users. You can do a cheap, quick usability
> survey. Have 10 
> questions that the site should answer quickly like a
> quiz. Use easy 
> questions like
> Where would you click to find the library's hours?
> Where would you look to find out if the library had
> "...."
> What events are being hosted at the library?
> Where could you find articles on"..."?
> Where would you look to find out if the library
> subscribed to "..."?
> 
> Approach people as the enter the library and ask if
> they would be 
> willing to help you design the library's Web site.
> Explain it will take 
> about 20 minutes of their time.
> You will find that patrons are very willing to help.
> 10-15 people per 
> design will point out most of your problems. After
> they answer the 
> questions, ask them what could be improved to make
> the task of finding 
> information easier. You can ask them to use both and
> compare how well 
> they like them or you can do it separately. You can
> even ask your IT 
> people and friends and family who are not librarians
> to take the quiz. 
> This will give you data that you can use to show
> which site is better. 
> If they won't use your design you can ask them  to
> make all the 
> modifications that the usability survey points as
> problems to their site 
> until it hopefully resembles your site.
> 
> Deborah Holmes-Wong, Project Manager
> USC Libraries
> University of Southern California
> Leavey Library 113 F
> Los Angeles, CA 90089-0251
> phone: 213-740-2867
> 
> Diana Myers Hyatt wrote:
> 
> >I value the expertise and opinions of this group,
> and
> >would like your comments about the redesign I'm
> >working on for the Riverside Public Library Web
> site,
> >as well as one done by the city's IT department
> (the
> >library wasn't consulted or notified on this one).
> >
> >Here's the current site, which is really showing
> its
> >age: http://www.riversideca.gov/library/
> >
> >Here's my redesign so far:
> >http://www.riversideca.gov/library/library4/
> >I've incorporated the city's banner design since
> >"everything looking the same" seems to be the
> ultimate
> >goal of their redesign.
> >
> >And here's the one the city wants us to use:
> >http://www.riversideca.gov/library3/
> >
> >
> >Since I'm working on this redesign myself and
> there's
> >no one else at our library with a background in web
> >design, especially such issues as standards and
> >accessibility, I would greatly appreciate the
> honest
> >opinions and suggestions of this group. Take a look
> at
> >the style sheets and source code if you can. 
> >
> >If you wish you can email me at
> >dhyatt at riversideca.gov.
> >
> >Thanks for your two cents in advance,
> >
> >Diana Myers Hyatt
> >Library Associate
> >City of Riverside Public Library
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >  
> >
> 
> 


Diana Myers Hyatt
dmyershyatt at yahoo.com


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