Transcript VIVA Web Revision - VIVA, The Virtual Library of Virginia

VIVA Web Revision
Outreach Committee
VIVA Users Group Meeting
November 1, 2007
Rationale for Project
Repair navigation problems
 Improve accessibility
 Comply with web standards

Accessibility
Prototype works with screen reader
 No formatting hard-coded in HTML
 Presentation controlled by a cascading style
sheet (CSS)
 One can disable CSS in browser for text
version

Usability Test (GMU)
Sample = 10; 6 librarians, 2 faculty, 2
others. Two were regular users of VIVA
stats. The others had infrequently or never
visited the current site.
 Method: Subjects were asked what they
liked about the web page and what they
would ask to be improved.

Multiple Subjects Requested…
Add search function
 Move News and Announcements up.
 Remove rotating images from home page
 Replace Mission with VIVA description
 Add Help page

Comments: Organization
Make site less complicated
 Group items by subject (ILL stats with
Usage stats)
 Standardize menus
 Replace “Benefits of VIVA” with “About
VIVA”
 Create easy “go-to” place for basic
information about VIVA.

Comments: Aesthetics
Reduce text density
 Enhance readability
 Add background color to reduce glare
 Adopt web standards

Goals of Current Revision
Easier navigation
 Logical organization
 Member access to news and data
 Accessibility, WC3 standards
 Connecting with legislators and academic
communities (a.k.a, Advocacy)

VIVA Reference Services
Should the VIVA web include reference
services overlapping those of member
libraries?
Committee Consensus
No, building extended reference features is an
undue burden on VIVA central. Site should
address core services …
 VIVA Database List
 E-Journal Locator for VIVA-licensed titles
 Virginia Special Collections
VIVA Web Audience?
Highest usage by librarians
 Promote VIVA to legislators and other
potential supporters?
 Promote VIVA to the academic community
beyond librarians?

Committee Consensus
Yes, we should promote VIVA funding and
participation through the website.
 How, then, do we connect with legislators
and faculty while enhancing functionality
for librarians?

http://www.vivalib.org/viva_new/