Abstract

Usability rules the web. If a patron can't navigate your website, then he or she will not use your library to find information. The rest of the Internet is only a mouse click away. Participants in this four hour workshop will learn how to conduct usability studies without expensive consultants, how to create accessible web pages, and how to apply design simplicity to their websites. Workshop topics include integration of diverse resources, library websites as components of institutional websites, and Internet vs. intranet design.

Objectives

1. Participants understand basic usability concepts (ie, what is usability, anyway?)
2. Participants understand basic accessibility concepts (why it's important, what kinds of accessibility to be concerned about, web features that can be problematic to various groups, etc.)
3. Participants learn about major sources of information about usability and accessibility (The really good stuff, mainly websites but also a few print works)
4. Participants learn important ways to study usability (including inexpensive methods you can do yourself)
5. Participants gain experience in analyzing websites for aspects of usability and accessibility (discussion session/activity)
6. Participants gain experience in planning a usability study (small group activity with reporting back to the large group)

Course Materials

• Course Outline
• Pre/Post Questionnaire
• Resource List
• PowerPoint Demonstration

Continuing Education

This course has been approved for 4 hours of Medical Library Association Continuing Education Units.

Greater Midwest Region

Max Anderson, Technology Coordinator, max@uic.edu, 312-996-2008

Midcontinental Region

Dana Abbey, Consumer Health and Colorado Liaison, dana.abbey@uchsc.edu, 303-315-4875

Pacific Northwest Region

Maryanne Blake, Outreach/Evaluation Coordinator, blakema@u.washington.edu, 206-221-3405

South Central Region

Shikun (KK) Jiang, Technology Coordinator, shikun.jiang@exch.library.tmc.edu, 713-799-7880

Southeastern Atlantic Region

J. Dale Prince, Technology Coordinator, dprince@hshsl.umaryland.edu, 410-706-2855

Developers

The instructors are members of the NN/LM Web Developers. In this role, they create and maintain web resources used by health professionals, librarians, and the general public.