Building the Digital Branch: Designing Effective Library WebsitesPresentation Transcript
Building the
Digital Branch
designing effective
library websites
David Lee King
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
davidleeking.com
Defining the
Digital Branch
about the library no collection
traditional website
no staff no interaction
no meetings
it’s about the library...
it's not THE library
digital branch...
building
staff
collection
community
a digital branch has...
building
a digital branch has...
staff
real staff
http://flickr.com/photos/freedryk/2170438778/
http://flickr.com/photos/osuvalleylibrary/523383761/
http://flickr.com/photos/olympiclibrarian/303827560/in/
set-72157600282345979/
a digital branch has...
collection
real collection
http://flickr.com/photos/lollyknit/2154242047/
http://flickr.com/photos/chrisbrogan/2704762582/
a digital branch has...
community
real community
a digital branch
is the actual library,
just online
A Guide to
Usability
What is usability?
Creating your test: Questions
• figure out what to test
• create a question that tests that
• write specific questions
Test Description
• “The goal of this study is to evaluate how
people find information using our website. I
will ask 15 questions and would like you to
think out loud while looking for the answer. I
will time you, and will stop you after 3 minutes
have passed. Don’t worry if you can’t find the
answer every time–we are testing our Web
site, not you! Each answer can be found
using the library’s Web site. The test should
take no more than 20 minutes. Do you have
any questions?”
Volunteers
Administer the test
• Think of this step as the consumer
“taste test”
• Administering the test is the easiest
part of a usability study.
• read the explanation, whip out your
stopwatch, and say “go.”
Analyzing
the test
Here are some common types of
problems you’ll find:
• Wording Problems
• Design Problems
• Complete your usability test, redesign,
and then … do it all again.
flickr.com/photos/dunk/152121217/
Live Card
Sorting