For what it's worth, the default of Foundation 5's implementation of
accordions is such that only one accordion can be open at a time and
there's an attribute you can set for "multi_expand". Same appears to be
true for Foundation 6 <http://foundation.zurb.com/sites/docs/accordion.html>
.

On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 3:13 PM, Scancella, John <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Kyle,
>
> It is possible. I typically do back end development but it also doesn't
> seem unreasonable to have only one part of the menu open at the same time.
> Perhaps there is another reason why the developer is unable/unwilling to
> change it. Personally I would then ask that developer to propose another
> solution, or mock up another navigation UI.
>
> After doing a little googling I found
> http://webdesignledger.com/best-practices-accordions-in-web-design which
> seems like a good overview. In the first example it points to
> http://designmodo.com/ which you has the behavior I believe you want in
> their demo http://designmodo.com/demo/jqueryaccordionmenu/
>
> Hope this helps. I find I always design better when I am forced to use the
> product I am designing. Maybe if they have to use it for a couple months
> they will change their mind.
>
> John
> Note: opinions expressed in this email are my own and not those of the
> Library of Congress
> ________________________________________
> From: Code for Libraries [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kyle
> Breneman [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 3:01 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Accordion menus & mobile web best practices
>
> Our library website is currently being redesigned to be responsive.  The
> work is being done by an outside design firm and the project is being
> managed by University Relations, our school's PR department.
>
> The mobile version of our responsive site has several accordion menus
> (similar to attached).  I've asked for these accordion menus to be
> self-closing; in other words, there is never more than one expansion of an
> accordion open at one time - if a user clicks to open another part of the
> accordion, the first part simultaneously slides shut.
>
> I've been told that self-closing accordions are contrary to best practices:
>
> "Unfortunately, no, as this isn’t best practice. Accordions should require
> a click each to open and close; in other words, nothing on your page should
> move without a user action. This is true throughout our sites. See the
> universal Quick Links in mobile."
>
> Is it true that self-closing accordion menus run counter to best practices
> in mobile web design?  The sort of behavior that I'm asking for seems, to
> me, intuitive and expected.
>
> Thanks for your input!
>
> Kyle Breneman
> Integrated Digital Services Librarian
> University of Baltimore
>