Sadly, so true! B/c libraries are rare & special snowflakes that don't operate by the rules of the rest of the web universe.... ;)

Speaking of library community web standards re: libguides, can anyone share what their library uses as metrics for success / key performance indicators in LibGuides (or non-libguides-based digital research guides)?

I appreciate it. Thank you, 
Sharon Clapp
Digital Resources Librarian
CCSU – Elihu Burritt Library
860-832-2059
[log in to unmask]



-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bennett Ponsford
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2014 4:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Library community web standards (was: LibGuides v2 - Templates and Nav)

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