Minutes of the Meeting of November 10, 2010, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Dana Porter, Room 428
Present : Annie Bélanger (Chair), Chris Gray, Esther Millar, Nancy Collins, Marian Davies (recorder), Doug Morton, Kathy Szigeti (Guest), Charles Woods
Regrets: Tim Ireland, Adrian Kemp
- Approval of WebOps Minutes of September 22 – approved with minor revisions
Approval of WebOps Minutes of October 13 – approved with minor revisions
- Business Arising
Sept.22 Item 5: Libguide accessibility
Charles reported that Google Analytics is setup appropriately for LibGuides.
Charles investigated other institution’s use of ‘redirects’ and discovered various points of views with respect to web maintenance.
Discussion: Should we review the need for redirects on a one-by-one basis? Historically, the redirects on our website were dated 6-8 months to cover a two-term period. The larger question, as to setting procedures or guidelines for redirects, will be discussed at a future meeting.
Doug reported on the location change for the ‘landing page’ that is attached to some of our e-resources. They have been moved from testtube to the library server.
Discussion: The disadvantage in moving these pages is the ongoing issues with on-campus wireless users; in some instances users still need to authenticate through the proxy.
- Agenda Review
Document retention (Annie)
- Issues relating to LibGuides (Kathy & Esther, 30 minutes)
Google Analytics – are they working for LibGuides?
Kathy reported on the discrepancy between the statistics gathered by Google Analytic and LibGuides.
ACTION:
Charles and Kathy S.: to explore concerns around difference in LibGuides stats versus Google Analytics
Annie: Discuss librarian refresher of Google Analytics for librarians (and with Alex re: Circulation content development)
Proxy – Is Bill’s list still relevant as we’re now linking directly to the resource? Should we delete this list?
http://testtube.uwaterloo.ca/erm/databases/dblinks2.cfm
Doug reported that this list is automatically generated every time there is a change to the page. This is the source that librarians should use for direct URL’s in their subject guides. However, the EZproxy will not work with all the resources listed, in which case Chris needs to add the host name in the EZproxy script. If the resource doesn’t work with EZproxy, and the script hasn’t been altered, the librarian should embed the SFX link for the resource.
Subject Guide Contact Forms – the user is taken to a contact form instead of a mailto link. Can the email that is generated by this form let us know which LibGuide the user came from?
After discussing various options, it was discovered that you can embed the subject guide information within the URL. Cold fusion can find what it needs for the URL and use it.
ACTION: Chris to add referral URL in code of form so recipients know where it came from
Widgets – librarians are requesting widgets, e.g., widget to search E-journal Titles. What can we offer them?
Creating widgets for resources such as SFX, RACER and such will present their own unique challenges. Discussion ensued on creating protocols, identifying possible, but not probable solutions, for example, using frames. More discussion on this topic is needed to identify what we need, timelines and turnaround time, etc. In addition, we need to investigate what other institutions are doing, and if there are any other alternatives, such as purchasing it from the source for a small commercial fee.
ACTION:
Subgroup to be created: Kathy S., Esther, Annie, Adrian
Subgroup to create guidelines proposal around widget review and support
Remote Desktop – send out announcement
Remote desktop on individual workstations will be helpful to check access to resources.
ACTION:
Annie: Send Chris’ message to Esther and Kathy
Annie: Speak with Carl re: possible support for adding remote desktop to individual’s machine
Annie: Send announcement to lib managers and librarians about Remote Desktop
Redirects – to the new LibGuides have now all been updated to December 15
Esther announced that all dates are now changed to reflect December 15, 2010. The remaining three outstanding guides will be live in the near future
Cleanup of discipline area. Note: some files will be not be moved to Libguides, e.g, Christine has video file over 5 mgs that exceeds Springshare’s maximum for uploading. We need a process to ensure these files are not deleted during our website conversion
Esther reported that Rose is in the process of cleaning up and deleting old unnecessary files. Files that have been identified to keep require additional steps, for example, videos. Orphan files can be moved to the creator’s C drive.
ACTION:
Esther: email librarians re: clean-up
Annie and Marian: Review moving rogue videos to Screencast directory and then review with Esther and Kathy
- Phasing Protocol – Campus Web Redesign (Chris) (see attached)
Timing is such that we need to get ready. LibTest needs to be updated for staff to test. We need to identify which files and directories are core to the Library user and copy these into the test area. Wordmark (part 1) and the banner (part 2) can be uploaded at the same time. Changing ssi’s on library sites will not impact on some of the other sites. We need to test wider pages and colour changes.
ACTION:
Charles: size by directory
Esther to id directories she wants on LibTest
Charles: clean off LibTest and move over mirror of id’ed directories
Group in favour:
Mashing phase 1 and phase 2
Exploring
- new header
- using branding colours
- e xpanding content areas
- Micro-Sites (Annie)
Annie spoke of the need to think horizontally, not vertically, when re-designing the web site. Through the development stage, we need to support Waterloo IA rules. How does Waterloo’s Communications and Public Affairs protocols translate into Drupal? Our methodology needs to explore supporting core, audience based navigation, and potentially gateways. Archive rules and maintenance issues will need to be established. Initially, we need to identify non-core areas of the site and spin them out. The spin-out sites are not our first priority. Our first priority is to ensure our core information needs are met. Once these are established we can then see where the other sites fit. This will also allow flexibility in developing an IA that will be best suited to their needs as well as extended our timelines.
ACTION:
Annie: Include micro sites in redesign proposal – Development, Scholarly Societies, Staff
- Document Retention (Annie)
Deferred to next meeting.
- Around the Table
Annie spoke about conducting usability studies. She is working on a proposal for a user needs assessment pilot study. Once completed she’ll forward it to WebOps, then to LibExec, and then to the Library Managers.
Holiday lunch:
Annie to find date and book Masala Bay
- Next Meeting : November 24, 2:00 – 3:30, Davis Conference Room, Recorder: Chris.
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November 24, 2010
