« Conflict Resolution | Main | College & University Section Luncheon »

May 1, 2006

Web Usability: User-Centered Design in Libraries

With thanks to Heather Craven, of the Nutley Public Library, for her notes:

Presenter David Lindahl, of the University of Rochester, described how to develop and maintain a user-friendly website. (He noted that this method took several years to implement at U of Rochester!)

1. Start with “key tasks” – ask users what they want to do/accomplish at the library’s website (find a book, check library hours, find an article?)
2. Dedicate ongoing staff time to user testing. Staff will need training or research to learn to do this. User testing must be regular and ongoing.
3. Do not have web design determined by committee! Design committees result in websites determined by conflicting staff agendas rather than by user needs. Assign or hire one person to be the designer. Make sure the designer has training and ongoing dedicated time.
4. Assign staff groups to give content to the designer. Groups should be determined by key task, not by library department.
5. The designer should develop prototype designs, have them tested by users, and re-design. Expect to go through many prototypes before publishing, and then to tweak on an ongoing basis.

Posted by at May 1, 2006 4:06 PM

Comments

Post a comment