Comments on: Website redesign at MPOW: What I’m Learning

By: Meredith

Meredith — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 23:35:30 +0000

I totally agree, Dan. Our Library Director is actually using my usability test results as evidence that we need more information literacy classes that are better integrated into the academic curricula. But I still think that a website should be clear and easy for anyone to understand.

Adrienne, hey fellow Seminole! “Don’t Make Me Think” is a terrific book and is my mantra for website design. I presented my redesign ideas to the library staff today and got a really positive reception. They actually all agreed that librarian-ese terminology is difficult for students to understand and that we should have more of a task-based architecture. It’s great to work somewhere where people are so supportive of your ideas!

By: Adrienne Stapleton

Adrienne Stapleton — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 21:29:03 +0000

When I read that you had taken Website Design and Administration, I knew you must be a fellow alumni. I graduated from FSU in 1998, and I also took this class.

I would like to suggest the book, “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug, which was used in a class I took at Syracuse University. Labeling is very important on the web since users tend to scan web pages more than do print.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:54:40 +0000

I think it’s important to design the website for the user, but it’s also extremely important to ensure that the university provides the proper training for students to better understand the new world they’re in. Yes, we can make it easier for them to find articles, but a student should be taught pretty fast what “Reserves” are if they ever intend to use the library. If students don’t understand what a Reserve section is in a Uni Library, then someone better smack down their proessor, not readjust the website terminology.

By: Bill Drew

Bill Drew — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 13:58:23 +0000

Take a look at my library’s website at http://library.morrisville.edu to see how we did this type of change. Terms such as catalog and databases show up when you scrool over the link, not at the actual trext of the link.

By: Jill Hurst-Wahl

Jill Hurst-Wahl — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 13:43:39 +0000

Thanks for posting. Of course, I’ve sent the URL to others.

By: Dorothea Salo

Dorothea Salo — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:42:06 +0000

Try Library Terms that Users Understand. ( http://www.jkup.net/terms.html , in case the link tags die.)

You do have Rosenfeld and Morville, don’t you? I can take or leave Nielsen, personally, but the polar-bear book is a must.