 |
 |
How would such a document differ from the usability guidelines published by the Department of Health and Human Services? http://guidelines.usability.gov/ (Now that's "official"!) -Shaun On 10/1/14 4:24 PM, Bennett Ponsford wrote: > On the other hand, I'm looking for best practices that I call point librarians to. And for that, having support from ALA/LITA is pretty much essential. I can quote Jared Spool or Jakob Nielsen till I'm blue in the face and no one will listen, but if I can say "these guidelines come from ALA" more people at my place of work will actually listen. > > Bennett > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Bennett Claire Ponsford | Digital Services Librarian > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of >> Joshua Welker >> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 2:57 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 >> - Templates and Nav) >> >> Code4Lib is certainly respected among techy librarians, but I would bet that >> 90% of my coworkers have never heard of it and would not care especially >> much about a document they publish. Not to disparage the group. >> I think it's great. I just think that official, institutionalized channels are going >> to be most effective in this case. >> >> I will be gone several days but will start throwing some things together soon. >> >> Josh Welker >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of >> Sean Hannan >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 2:30 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 >> - Templates and Nav) >> >> I'm just going to jump in here and question the need for it to be ALA or LITA >> affiliated. Plenty of stuff has been accomplished and respected (like, oh, hey, >> code4lib) without an attachment of ALA or LITA. >> >> Annnnd...discuss. >> >> -Sean >> ________________________________________ >> From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Joshua >> Welker [[log in to unmask]] >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 3:19 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 >> - Templates and Nav) >> >> Bohyun, >> >> That sounds like it could be a great fit. >> >> There would be two final products for what I have in mind: >> >> 1. A wiki site (ideally attached to an ALA-affiliated domain name) where we >> can collaborate and break all this down at the topic level. This is the source >> that would be used by the boots-on-the-ground librarians who are actually >> doing UX work and need practical information. It would be continually >> updated. The content would be curated, and there would be a very basic >> approval process for creating new editor accounts. >> >> 2. An annually-revised document (again, attached to an ALA-affiliated >> domain >> name) that compiles everything from the wiki together in a format that can >> easily be presented to other librarians and administrators. In my experience, >> a bureaucratically approved document carries a lot more weight in libraries >> than a website, at least in academic libraries. >> >> Topics that would be addressed: >> >> 1. Accessibility >> 2. Layout patterns >> 3. Typography and readability >> 4. Best practices for specific library web platforms 5. Recommendations for >> how libraries should implement the guidelines at a management level >> (non-technical) >> >> Josh Welker >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of >> Kim, Bohyun >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:42 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 >> - Templates and Nav) >> >> Jumping into this discussion late. Just wanted to let everyone know that LITA >> UX IG would be more than happy to provide a venue for this type of >> discussion since it would fit the interest of UX IG perfectly. (I am chairing the >> IG this year; ping me if that sounds interesting and if there is anything LITA >> UX IG can help.) LITA IGs are super flexible. >> >> Cheers, >> Bohyun >> >> >> -- >> Bohyun Kim, MA, MSLIS >> Associate Director for Library Applications and Knowledge Systems University >> of Maryland, Baltimore Health Sciences and Human Services Library >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of >> Megan O'Neill Kudzia >> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:24 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 >> - Templates and Nav) >> >> I've been following with interest, and I think some really important points are >> coming out here. >> >> John, what you said about Tomcat vs. Jetty really resonated with me - maybe >> this is *yet another* place where we could split this thread, but I think for >> those of us straddling the gap between web design and web development, >> something like a reference guide for what the questions to ask even are, >> would be extremely helpful. >> >> As you said, the answer to many many questions is, "it depends," and >> knowledge of those topics comes with experience. However, maybe (and I >> volunteer to help with this project, inasmuch as I can) a sort of expansion of >> the Guide for the Perplexed would be really useful for those of us who are >> no longer total beginners, but are sort of struggling to level up? >> >> That is, those of us with some experience of various projects could >> contribute anything public-share-able from our post mortem project >> conversations, relevant to each type of project? It's something I've been >> thinking about for some time, and I'm still not sure what an optimal structure >> would be, but I keep thinking it would be a really worthwhile project. >> >> I will also say that everything I've found on alistapart and libux has been >> incredibly useful! >> >> On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 11:05 AM, Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >>> How many folks following this discussion are LITA members? Would >>> anyone be willing to join LITA to be a part of an interest group on >>> this subject? I will renew my membership in LITA if that is the best >>> route to take. >>> >>> Josh Welker >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf >>> Of Cindi Blyberg >>> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:46 AM >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >>> LibGuides v2 >>> - >>> Templates and Nav) >>> >>> Oh, and if UX doesn't fit, y'all can establish the LITA Web Standards >>> IG, or the LITA Code4Lib Web Best Practices IG, or whatever you want >>> to call it. >>> You need 10 LITA Member signatures: >>> >>> >>> http://www.ala.org/lita/sites/ala.org.lita/files/content/about/manual/ >>> forms/e5-igformation.pdf >>> >>> >>> http://www.ala.org/lita/about/igs >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 10:44 AM, Cindi Blyberg <[log in to unmask]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> *puts on LITA hat* >>>> >>>> There are several ways that LITA/ALA could play a role here. >>>> >>>> Publications: >>>> There is a series of books called LITA Guides. Great way to get the >>>> word out widely, but a static format. >>>> http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=lita >>>> >>>> There are also Library Technology Reports - a periodical. Still >>>> static, but published more regularly: >>>> http://alatechsource.org/ltr/index >>>> >>>> There is also the LITA UX Interest Group. IGs are fluid, >>>> volunteer-run (not appointed), and can pretty much do what they want. >>>> Publish and update something? Sure! Establish and run a virtual >>>> conference? Definitely! Have meetings and programs at conferences? >> Yes! >>>> Caveat: must be a LITA member. >>>> >>>> Happy to provide more info if needed. >>>> >>>> -Cindi >>>> of the many hats >>>> >>>> On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 10:34 AM, Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I definitely agree that we should adhere to larger web standards >>>>> and that we should actively discourage conventions that libraries >>>>> have adopted over the years that have nothing to do with wider >>>>> standards and best practices (e.g. >>>>> tabbed search boxes, content in sidebar regions). In fact, much of >>>>> our work would just be bringing together information from several >>>>> standards into a common location and putting a "librarian" stamp of >>>>> approval on it. >>>>> >>>>> Some topics I had in mind: >>>>> >>>>> -Accessibility standards: screen readers, color blindness, keyboard >>>>> navigation, alt tags, etc. >>>>> -Text: readable fonts, colors, text alignment -Page layout: >>>>> navigation location, sidebars, headings and subheadings, search box >>>>> designs, database pages, mobile friendliness -Best practices for >>>>> specific library platforms: LibGuides, DSpace, etc. >>>>> >>>>> Some official name would be required, of course. I also think it >>>>> would be great if we could write a draft, bring it to an official >>>>> ALA group like LITA, and get them to adopt it after making their >>>>> own tweaks. >>>>> >>>>> Josh Welker >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>>>> Behalf Of Michael Schofield >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:01 AM >>>>> To: [log in to unmask] >>>>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >>>>> LibGuides >>>>> v2 - >>>>> Templates and Nav) >>>>> >>>>> I am interested but I am a little hazy about what kind of standards >>>>> you all are suggesting. I would warn against creating standards >>>>> that conflict with any actual web standards, because I--and, I >>>>> think, many others--would honestly recommend that the #libweb >>>>> should aspire to and adhere more firmly to larger web standards and >>>>> best practices that conflict with something that's more, ah, >>>>> librarylike. Although that might not be what you folks have in mind >>>>> at all : ). >>>>> >>>>> Michael S. >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>>>> Behalf Of Brad Coffield >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 9:30 AM >>>>> To: [log in to unmask] >>>>> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: >>>>> LibGuides >>>>> v2 - >>>>> Templates and Nav) >>>>> >>>>> Josh, thanks for separating this topic out and starting this new >>>>> thread. I don't know of any such library standards that exist on >>>>> the web. I agree that this sounds like a great idea. As for this >>>>> group or not... why not! >>>>> It's 2014 and they don't exist yet and they would be incredibly >>>>> useful for many libraries, if not all. Now all we need is a cool >>> 'working >>>>> group' >>>>> title >>>>> for ourselves and we're halfway done! Right??? >>>>> >>>>> But seriously, I'd love to help. >>>>> >>>>> Brad >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Brad Coffield, MLIS >>>>> Assistant Information and Web Services Librarian Saint Francis >>>>> University >>>>> 814-472-3315 >>>>> [log in to unmask] >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Megan (O'Neill) Kudzia >> Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian Stockwell-Mudd Library >> Albion College >> 602 E. Cass St. >> Albion, MI 49224 -- Shaun Ellis User Interface Developer, Digital Initiatives Princeton University Library 609.258.1698 “Any darn fool can get complicated. It takes genius to attain simplicity.” -Pete Seeger