June 30, 2009 – July 10, 2009

Over the next several days we’re going to be looking at usability and accessibility of websites, with some focus on library websites, as well as a brief overview of assistive technologies that might be used in libraries. I had originally intended this topic to only cover one week, but after finding such a wealth of content (as well as some fun presentations, such as “The Death of Library Jargon”), I realized I’d give you all about two weeks to complete this. We have the time, as there were no weekly assignments posted for next week.

The readings, audio, and video files hopefully will give you a better understanding as to what accessibility is, why accessibility matters, and why libraries should be focusing more on usability studies, as well as a lot more resources for further information. Don’t feel overwhelmed by so much content. The two videos are fairly short. The podcasts vary in length, and many of the links in the read and skim sessions are short reads (but not all). At the end of this handout, you will also find links to more information, including several bibliographies on usability and accessibility.

Watch

  1. Krug, S. (2007). Usability Testing. http://www.peachpit.com/podcasts/episode.aspx?e=f6578a16-f53e-489e-93cf-2c839ea840cf
  2. Getting, B. (2008). Tutorial of WAVE tool. http://bannerrep.com/videos/tutorial_accessibility/accessibility.mov Information about this video can be found here.
  3. University of Washington. (2000). Working Together: People with Disabilities and Computer Technology. http://www.researchchannel.org/mov/uw_doit_wtdct_1300k_qt.mov. Information about this video can be found here.

Listen

  1. Christiansen, B. (2009). Userability Podcast #6 – 20 Years, No Improvement.  http://www.uie.com/BSAL/UserabilityEp6ScottBerkun.mp3. Information about this podcast episode can be found here.
  2. Henry, S. (2008). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines V2.0 – An Interview with Shawn Henry. http://cdn4.libsyn.com/uxpod/shawnhenry.mp3 OR read the transcript.
  3. Schneider, K. (2007). Death to Library Jargon OPAL session. http://www.jocolibrary.org/upload/library/i/opal/libraryjargon101107/libraryjargon101107.mp3. You can (manually) follow along with her slides here.
  4. WebAxe Podcast #41: The Definition of Web Accessibility. http://checkengineusa.com/web_axe_podcast/audio/web_axe_episode_41.mp3. Information about this podcast can be found here.

Read

  1. ALA Rehab Act. http://www.lita.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/emailtutorials/accessibilitya/04.cfm#
  2. Accessibility at Hennepin County Library. http://hclib.org/pub/info/accessibility.cfm
  3. Accessibility at Johnson County Library. http://www.jocolibrary.org/templates/JCL_InfoPage.aspx?id=2271
  4. Crosset, L. (2007). Usability! (blog post). http://www.newrambler.net/lisdom/188
  5. Dolson, J. (2006) Trying to Define Web Accessibility. http://www.joedolson.com/articles/2006/10/trying-to-define-web-accessibility/
  6. Dolson, J. (2009). New Accessibility Guidelines A “Welcomed Update”. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/984-New-Accessibility-Guidelines-A-Welcomed-Update-
  7. Dolson, J. (2009). New Accessibility Guidelines Part II: Operability. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1024-New-Accessibility-Guidelines-Part-II-Operability
  8. Dolson, J. (2009). New Accessibility Guidelines Part III: Understandability. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1067-New-Accessibility-Guidelines-Part-III-Understandability
  9. Dolson, J. (2009). New Accessibility Guidelines Part IV: Robustness. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/1114-New-Accessibility-Guidelines-Part-IV-Robustness
  10. Jasek, C. (2007). How to Design Library Websites to Maximize Usability.  http://libraryconnect.elsevier.com/lcp/0502/lcp0502.pdf (PDF)
  11. Kupersmith, J. (2009). Library Terms that Users Understand. http://www.jkup.net/terms.html
  12. Kupersmith, J. (2006). Library terms evaluated in usability tests and other studies. http://www.jkup.net/terms-studies.html
  13. Kupersmith, J. (2005). Terms found on usability-tested library home pages. http://www.jkup.net/terms-on-tested-pages.html
  14. Nielsen, J. (2005). Usability 101: Definition and Fundamentals. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
  15. Novotny, E. (2004). I Don’t Think I Click: A Protocol Analysis Study of a Library Online Catalog in the Internet Age. http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crljournal/2004/nov/Novotny.pdf
  16. Solomon, L. (2005). Sinking or Swimming? The State of Websites in Ohio’s Public Libraries. http://www.designforthelittleguy.com/study.pdf
  17. United States Access Board (n.d.). Electronic and Information Technology Standards: An Overview. http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/summary.htm.
  18. W3C. (2005). Essential Components of Web Accessibility. http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/components.php
  19. W3C. (2005). Introduction to Accessibility. http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php

Skim

  1. GSA. (2008). Section 508 Website. http://www.section508.gov/
  2. Henry, S. (2007). Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Through Design. http://www.uiAccess.com/JustAsk/
  3. HHS. (n.d.). Usability Basics. http://usability.gov/basics/index.html
  4. Section 508 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508law.php
  5. W3C. (2008). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-WCAG20-20081211/

Week’s Assignments – Due Friday, July 10

Blackboard Post

  1. What do you think about usability and accessibility of library websites? Is it an impossible dream?
  2. Look at a library website (post it here), and list how much library jargon you can find on the site (spend 5-10 minutes, at most). Are you able to find books in the catalog from the homepage? Does the library list on the homepage its hours? Its address? Is the site easy to navigate?
  3. Take a library website, and use it with the http://wave.webaim.org tool and report back here with your results (what you’re able to see and interpret). Don’t worry about the technical details. Just report back the results (ex. what failed?)

Multimedia Essay Response

  1. According to the readings, audio, and video clips, why is a focus on usability and accessibility important, especially to libraries?

Further Resources and Reading (not required)

  1. Chapman, S. (2009). Userslib Blog. http://userslib.com/
  2. Educause. (2009). Web Accessibility Resources. http://www.educause.edu/Resources/Browse/WebAccessibility/17798
  3. Indiana University. (2008). Digital Library Program: Services: Interface Design & Usability Services. http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/services/designUsability/index.shtml
  4. Krug, S. (2005). Don’t Make Me Think : A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (2nd Edition). New Riders Press. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61895021&referer=brief_results
  5. Krug, S. and L. Rosenfeld. (2004). Luminary Lectures @ Your Library: Krug and Rosenfeld on loc.gov: An Interactive Evaluation. http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/lectures/sklr.html (video)
  6. Krug, S. (2008). Steve Krug on the least you can do about usability. http://network.businessofsoftware.org/video/steve-krug-on-the-least-you (video)
  7. Krug, S. (2005). Chapter 9 from Don’t Make Me Think. http://sensible.com/Downloads/DMMTchapter09_for_personal_use_only.pdf
  8. Krug S. (2005). Chapter 10 from Don’t Make Me Think. http://sensible.com/Downloads/DMMTchapter10_for_personal_use_only.pdf
  9. Frequently Asked Questions about Accessibility, Usability, and Library Websites. http://elsevier.com/wps/find/librarianshome.librarians/askucd
  10. Schmetzke, A. (2009). Accessible Webpage Design: Resources. http://library.uwsp.edu/aschmetz/accessible/pub_resources.htm
  11. University of Michigan. (2008). Resources for General, Library, and Digital Library Related Usability. http://www.lib.umich.edu/usability/resources.html
  12. University of Virginia. (2007). Research Computing Lab: Usability and User Requirements Services. http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/brown/rescomp/uxstudies.html