[Web4lib] Usability testing in public, school, special libraries

[McHale, Nina]

Hi, all,

I'm preparing a presentation on conducting web site usability studies
for a local conference, and I have a question for those of you who have
experience with usability in any kind of library *except* academic. What
protocol/procedures are you expected to follow in order to get
permission from your higher-ups to conduct usability testing involving
patron subjects? In academic libraries, federal law requires that your
project be approved (or declared exempt) by an insitutional review
board. What are the equivalents to this in other types of libraries?

Thanks in advance,

Nina

Nina McHale, MA/MSLS
Web Services Librarian
Auraria Library

Serving the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences
Center-Downtown Campus,
Metropolitan State College
and the Community College of Denver

1100 Lawrence Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
303-556-4729

nina.mchale at cudenver.edu