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A Path To Providing User-Centered Subject Guides, Tammy Stitz, Shari Laster, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
A Path To Providing User-Centered Subject Guides, Tammy Stitz, Shari Laster, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Research, Publications, and Presentations
The experience at the University of Akron illustrates a transitional path from static Web sites to dynamic, user-centered Web design. Starting with Web-based subject resource guides that were difficult to maintain and navigate, University Libraries migrated to a content management system that solved existing maintenance issues and created the opportunity for interactive resource lists. Subsequent usability testing found that users needed librarian-designed subject guides to understand and access resources. Consequently, University Libraries redesigned its Web site functionality. In the course of this article, it is shown that ease of maintenance and ease of use need not be mutually exclusive.
Transitioning From Marketing-Oriented Design To User-Oriented Design: A Case Study, Shari Laster, Tammy Stitz, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Transitioning From Marketing-Oriented Design To User-Oriented Design: A Case Study, Shari Laster, Tammy Stitz, Frank Bove, Casey Wise
Research, Publications, and Presentations
The transition to a new architecture and design for an academic library Web site does not always proceed smoothly. This case study describes the experiences of a library at a large research university that hired an outside Web development contractor to create a new architecture and design for the university’s Web site using dotCMS, an open source content management system. The library participated in the design and development process along with other campus units. Because the university-wide process focused on marketing the university to prospective students, parents, and donors, the fact-finding process that the contractor used for the library’s site …