The SLA San Diego Chapter's upcoming Fall Seminar, titled Web Services: Embracing the Web as the Library's Core Service Space, will feature six speakers from near and far addressing website management, usability and analytics; Web 2.0 tool evaluation; and making resources discoverable.
But what more specifically will the speakers discuss? To find the answer, read their talk summaries below.
As a reminder, here are the seminar's basic details:
* DATE: Friday, October 3, 2008
* TIME: 8am – 3:30pm
* LOCATION: Amylin Pharmaceuticals in San Diego
Registration is now closed.
(Note continental breakfast and catered lunch will be provided at no
extra cost.)
Questions? Please write to [email protected].
POSTED BY: Seminar Codirector Daria DeCooman
EMAIL: [email protected]
CHAPTER INFO: http://sla-sd.typepad.com/blog/
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2008 SLA-SD SEMINAR SPEAKERS' TALK SUMMARIES
Arizona State University Web Services Librarian Tammy Allgood:
Case Studies & Best Practices: How to Design Library Websites for Usability
What are today's best principles of user centered design for websites and intranets? How can we evaluate the effectiveness and usability of website design and conduct quick and inexpensive usability tests? By looking at case studies and library websites, the answers become clear. Also, by understanding the evolution of usability we can better understand how to continue to design library websites for usability. Learn during this talk about how the evolution of the Web – from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0 – affects usability, how users adapt and change, and importantly whether there are usability rules which will withstand the test of time or whether usability needs to evolve along with the rest of the Web.
University of California, San Diego, Science & Engineering Library Digital Services Librarian SuHui Ho:
Best Practices: Strategies to Make Library Resources Discoverable
Libraries purchase thousands of databases, eJournals and eBooks each year, but their usage is relatively low. Research shows users understand the credibility and quality of library resources and prefer to use them if they can find them. But the complexity of information structure and poor design of many library websites make it difficult for users to discover this wealth of resources. How can librarians help make resources more discoverable to library users? Strategies successfully implemented at the University of California, San Diego include better website design and navigation, Web 2.0-enriched subject portals, RSS for featured resources/services, user-controlled embeddable gadgets and tactics to link physical and virtual libraries. Come hear about these successful strategies and gain understanding of how they might work for you too.
Essential Information Partners Information Specialist Amy Lisewski:
Bringing SharePoint to Life: Using Your Knowledge of Information Design to Add Value to SharePoint Deployments
Many companies are adopting Microsoft's SharePoint (WSS & MOSS) as an enterprise content management and portal solution. How can you apply your expert knowledge of eliciting, organizing and delivering information to make the most of SharePoint? To find the answer, we'll compare a basic library website and an industry intelligence portal and see how SharePoint's collaboration and Web content management features are brought to life by expert information analysis and architecture.
Educational Testing Service Brigham Library Manager Karen McQuillen:
ETS Brigham Library Case Study: From Content Management to Knowledge Management
From 2005 - 2008, the Brigham Library at ETS reinvented itself, changing from a third-party provider of information to ETS staff to a virtual space (with physical backup) in which ETS staff are able to do much of their own research. The key to success was improving the awareness and findability of resources. Come learn about ways in which success was achieved, including ETS' implementation of a library portal and launch of a federated search (via Serials Solutions). During this talk, you'll also learn about some of the ways ETS continually disseminates information and keeps staff empowered, including the distribution of Daily News and Reports, the use of blogs and frequent learning events.
Editor, ONLINE: Exploring Technology & Resources for Information Professionals, Marydee Ojala:
How to Evaluate New Web Technologies
With all the new technologies relating to Web 2.0, Library 2.0, cloud computing, social networking, blogging, microblogging and online communities vying for our attention, how do we in special libraries determine what is actually of value to our users? We need to guard
against adopting and promoting technologies just because they are new, shiny and cool. What problem do we have that these technologies will solve or are we embracing a technology then looking for a problem it will solve? Beyond that, how do we convince management to allow us to implement these technologies? Evaluating new technologies and getting IT buy-in may not be as hard as you think. Join in the fun as we take a look at how to facilitate the processes.
UCLA Library Web Services Coordinator Zheng (John) Wang:
Case Study: Successfully Implementing Actionable Web Analytics
Web analytics provide opportunities for institutions to leverage their websites as platforms to understand users' online needs in a timely fashion. This case study provides an inside look at how the UCLA Library established its mission-aligned and actionable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess and optimize its website based on evidence. The case describes the challenge the library faced without KPIs to improve its site, the process used to create them and the benefits they have delivered for better decision making. Libraries of all kinds can use this case to help create Web analytics plans.