Web Design, Usability, and Future Technologies….oh my!
If there is one thing I appreciate more than anything about the knowledge I received through the UW MLIS program it is the required rigorous technology education and exposure.
One of the most important topics relating to current technology which was extensively discussed and researched in several of the “tech-oriented” classes that I took was the issue of usability.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines usability as:
The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use
LIS 540 (Information Systems, Architectures, and Retrieval) and LIS 545 (Programming for Information Systems) were excellent introductions to the idea of usability, its necessity, and its elements. The final project for LIS 545 allowed me to focus on the idea of usability in two fundamental ways:
- To research and evaluate the usability of a proposed future technology using the elements and criteria of usability discussed in class.
- To incorporate elements of usability within a web-technology by building a web-essay (using Notepad) reporting on the findings of my research.
The outcome of these classes is that I now wear a permanent usability filter. I look at everything in terms of usability and functionality.
Real World Applications:
My newly acquired usability filter, caused red flags to start popping up incessantly when using the website of the public library at which I work. Something needed to be done.
So much work and change needs to go into our public library’s homepage. However, work and change in the professional world equates to time and money. I knew that in order to increase the time and money dedicated to our web page (the online portal to the library), I would need administrative support. In order to gain support, I would need to make a strong argument.
Step One: Commission graduate students at Boise State University to perform a usability study on the library’s website (March 2008).
Step Two: Create a strong platform (using the usability study results) on which to make a case for a full time webmaster. This position will be dedicated to the continual reinvention, maintenance, and most importantly the usability of our library’s website (May 2008).
Results:
- Webmaster hours increased from 8 to 20 hours effective June 2008.
- Webmaster hours increased from 20 to 40 hours effective September 2008.
As you can see, this example illustrates how a major technological project, combined with an intellectual argument can result in the achievement of real-life practical goals.
What I have realized, is that in order to stay relevant in an increasingly technology driven world, libraries too need to keep up with and embrace current technologies. In order to do this, we need to shift from a mentality which separates technology and information and move to a mentality that embraces technology as information access: information is facilitated by technology in almost every aspect (acquisition, purchasing, online, communication, etc.).
Almost of equal importance is the fundamental understanding and implementation of the idea of usability with regards to the technology that we embrace. It is not good enough to embrace and implement technology in whatever fashion we see fit as librarians. We must always consider our users. The implementation of technology into the services of public libraries is only effective if it can be used with ease and satisfaction by our patrons. Therefore, we need to involve them in the implementation process.
(In conclusion, I would recommend both LIS 540 and LIS 545 taught by Terry Brooks as a requirement for every MLIS student!)
