Web Advisory Group
MINUTES 04/11/01
Present: Duke, Hartman (minutes), Hennig, Jones, Manoff
1. Update on converting old pages to new look:
Nicole reported that she and Marion are working very hard to get the pages changed over before we go live with our "Preview" site. Group reviewed several pages and discussed which pages would be most important to have up and working for the preview.
2. Second round of usability testing on new site:
Group decided to focus
on faculty and students with this round. We will have a mix of questions focusing
on the following areas.
--- individual library
pages, probably starting at the Barker page.
--- subject pages -- ask
both specific questions and also leave it open for general comments. Perhaps
pick one subject they know about and one they do not. This can be used as
a chance to get a variety of information from our users. Ask volunteers what
they generally think about these pages and did they even know these pages
existed?
--- test something from
the Circulation page
--- perhaps ask a question
about "publication types"
--- a question about Course
Reserves
--- a question regarding the BLC
Observers -- Jones,
Manoff, Duke, and Eggleston or Jenkins
Test questions -- Jones and Manoff
When -- Try to have questions prepared for next meeting, and ideally
test between April 25 - May 9th. Share results at May 9th meeting.
3. Templates:
Nicole showed group the templates she has been using to update the old pages. There are two types of templates that could be used, one with items which would be "locked down" using the Template feature in Dreamweaver [and therefore making sure things were not inadvertently changed] and the other just a page that can be copied as the basis of creating new pages, [so the web editor would be able to change anything on the page]. Nicole is still deciding how to set up the template files. Discussions will continue.
4. Training:
Group discussed how best
to train the staff in regards to updating pages and the use of templates.
We will attempt to balance it along with the 3rd Barton training which will
be during the same time. Discussed the continued use of the "Web Contact"
and the fact that different libraries use their contact differently. Also
noted that different librarians have different skill levels, as well as different
levels of interest in authoring and editing their own pages. We will continue
this discussion in future meetings.
5. Preview to go live:
Preview is set to go live on April 30th. Nicole will try to have the site index and search engine working by then. We discussed what would be included in "Phase II" of the new website. We agreed upon: the metadata generator, the improved search engine, special audience pages, Archives site, and RVC.
Next meeting:
04/25/2001, 1:30-3:00, Library Training Room
http://libstaff.mit.edu/webgroup/minutes/20010411.htm