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Library Web Review Group

Notes for January 17, 2007 Meeting

LIB 428 , 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Present: Christy Branston, Rachel Caldwell (recorder), Helena Calogeridis, Marian Davies, Esther Millar, Dan Sich, Bill Oldfield (Chair)

Regrets: Sandra Keys

  1. Minutes of Meeting, November 22, 2006
    Accepted as is.

  2. Business Arising
    Item 4:     Allan Bell is now our administrative contact. With Marina's retirement, Bill Oldfield is now Lib Web Review's Chair.

  3. Agenda Review
    Accepted as is.

  4. Outstanding Issues: Updates/Reports

    a) Jargon Page: item deferred.

    b) CSS Enhancements: Marian and Esther presented some examples of how enhancing the Library web's navigation menus might help with usability and hope that some changes could be implemented by June 2007. Esther also demonstrated how placing small images in the right or left navigation/ssi could help make our secondary web pages more colourful and draw attention to the nav menu. Action: Marian and Esther will table items to be discussed and approved at our next meeting.

    c) Title Tags for Left Nav Menu: It was agreed by the group that we still want to pursue this project. Action: Esther and Helena will work on providing examples mounted on the test page.

    d) RefWorks TRELLIS Link: This is still a work in progress. One of the main glitches left to be resolved involves proxy connection.

    e) Scholars Portal Search Box: Subject librarians can now add a Scholars Portal search box to their respective subject pages. Christy showed an example of this search box mounted on her Econ page. Info still needs to be ascertained regarding the usefulness of this search box prior to readvertising this feature to the other librarians — it was asked if Doug Morton is the staff member to promote this. A discussion ensued about relocating the search box so that it is more prevalent, as well as if a general Scholars Portal search box would work well on the Library's home page.

    f) Blogging/Podcasts: Chris Gray is currently rebuilding the server that will be used for the Library's wiki, blogging software (WordPress), etc. Christy, Dan, and Rachel are working towards the creation of "podtours" for the Davis and Porter Libraries. Rachel wants to try to introduce podcasts to news @ your library. Stakeholders in pod and blog projects have received the software/tools necessary, however there are some glitches experience with how/where iTunes was installed. Action: Bill will look into the iTunes installation issue.

    g) Applying Social Web Tools to Your Research: Christy and Dan will present this LINC workshop to staff at a spotlight in February.

    h) Public Workstation Desktop Image: There is currently an interim image on the public workstations, but this project is not finalized yet.

    i) DSpace Presentation for Library Staff: UWSpace is currently undergoing some changes. A meeting/spotlight will be arranged for library staff once the UWSpace changes are implemented. Action: Bill will talk to Jackie Stapleton about arranging a spotlight session on UWSpace.

    j) Library Login - Quick User Testing: Christy and Marian were able to provide comments from four informal usability tests. This item will be discussed further at a future meeting.

    k) Quick Poll: still a work in progress and will be discussed at a future meeting.

    l) Approach to Analyzing Other Websites: still a work in progress and will be discussed at a future meeting.

    m) TRELLIS Header Subgroup: Navigation items featured in this header include: Connect from Home, Ask a Librarian, Find Journal Articles, Subject Guides, and Find Books. Item deferred to next meeting.

  5. CCAE Prix D'Excellence
    The group decided that we should try submitting the Library's web site to the 2007 CCAE Prix D'Excellence for Best Department or Program Site on the WWW. Action: Rachel will confirm the group's interest to participate with Mary Stanley and will send the group more detailed information as to what's involved prior to our next meeting.

  6. Updated Banner Images

    Esther and Rachel presented a selection of potential banner images to integrate with the current rotation displayed on the Library's home page. The group went through the images and voted on their preferences. Action: Esther and Rachel will update the banner selection and present it to Administration for final approval.

  7. Branding Issues
    Item deferred.

  8. Contribute Editing
    Item deferred.

  9. Library Homepage and UW Closures
    During previous university closures (due to inclement weather) Marina Wan took care of placing an announcement on the Library's home page. Action: Bill will contact Library Admin to discuss if and how this will be handled for future emergency closures

  10. Around the Table
    None to report at this time.


January 18, 2007