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Suelzer, Elizabeth | 1 May 03:21

What to call the links

The library I work at is undergoing a site redesign. In the hopes of
making the site more user friendly, we want to get away from using
library terminology (when appropriate) and use terms that are more
intuitive to our students. An example of this would be labeling the link
to the catalog as "search for books" instead of "catalog," or saying
"borrow from other libraries" rather that "interlibrary loan."  

In your opinions, would this be helpful for college students, or do you
feel that the term "catalog" is intuitive enough.  Will I be dumbing
down our site, or will I make it easier to use? Also, do you have
examples of how you have changed the language on your site to make it
less librarianese and more consumer friendly?

Thank you.

Elizabeth Suelzer
suelzer@... <mailto:suelzer@...>
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Tim Spalding | 1 May 03:57
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Re: What to call the links

I think it can be attractive to fret over labels and miss the larger
thing. People don't read web pages in the first instance, they follow
web conventions.

For example, neither a "catalog" or "search for books" link is as
immediately grasped as a well-positioned search box. Over the search
box I'd actually go with something stuffy like "Search library
catalog." But the search box is the thing, not the label. In the case
of ILL, I'd want to think about how they get to that need. Are
dead-end searches in the catalog sending them there? Is the name in a
simple list of important library services, with tag lines about what
they're for? Arguing over labels can be a unrewarding activity, a
lonely argument over words, fraught with fear about dumbing down. By
contrast, redesigning for actual use can be a clarifying experience,
with consensus building as the pieces come together in a sensible way.

But my biggest advice is not to hide the catalog. Whenever a student
can't find the catalog from a library home page, a kitten dies.

Tim

On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 9:21 PM, Suelzer, Elizabeth <suelzer@...> wrote:
> The library I work at is undergoing a site redesign. In the hopes of
>  making the site more user friendly, we want to get away from using
>  library terminology (when appropriate) and use terms that are more
>  intuitive to our students. An example of this would be labeling the link
>  to the catalog as "search for books" instead of "catalog," or saying
>  "borrow from other libraries" rather that "interlibrary loan."
>
>
(Continue reading)

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Alan Cockerill | 1 May 04:12
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RE: What to call the links

I've had this bookmarked forever, it may help:

Library Terms That Users Understand 
John Kupersmith

http://www.jkup.net/terms.html

Cheers, Alan.

Alan Cockerill
Library Technologies Coordinator
James Cook University, Cairns 

PO Box 6811
CAIRNS QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4042 1737
Fax: (07) 4042 1516
Email: Alan.Cockerill@...
http://www.library.jcu.edu.au/Staff/alan.shtml

CRICOS Provider Code: 00117J (QLD) 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces@... [mailto:web4lib-
> bounces@...] On Behalf Of Suelzer, Elizabeth
> Sent: Thursday, 1 May 2008 11:22 AM
> To: web4lib@...
> Subject: [Web4lib] What to call the links
> 
> The library I work at is undergoing a site redesign. In the hopes of
(Continue reading)

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Lin Light | 1 May 13:58

ftp at public pcs

Just curious to know what libraries allow patrons to FTP from public pcs. And 
those that don't why and those that do why.

Lin

Lin Light
Head of Computer
 & Technical Services
Herrick District Library
300 South River Ave.
Holland, MI 49423
Voice 616-355-3727
Fax   616-355-1426
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Francis Kayiwa | 1 May 14:16
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Re: ftp at public pcs


On May 1, 2008, at 6:58 AM, Lin Light wrote:

> Just curious to know what libraries allow patrons to FTP from public  
> pcs. And
> those that don't why and those that do why.

We do have a FTP capable client that allows users to connect to any  
server that *still* uses FTP. The campus only allows SFTP. Our reasons  
on using FTP are similar to why we allow our users to use HTTP.

They need it.

./fxk
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Elizabeth Edwards | 1 May 15:30
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Re: What to call the links

In the context of our website redesign, I did a review of 75 schools'
terminology for things like the catalog, ILL, databases, etc.  I'd be happy
to share this information with you if you'd like.  There doesn't seem to be
any agreement in terminology amongst universities - instead, we saw a
combination of task based ("find books"), general ("catalog"), and branded
("ALADIN catalog") terminology in use.

In response, we did a language usability test with students and staff, and
found that in some instances, our branding ("consortium loan service" rather
than "borrow from other schools") was preferred - while in others, students
responded to the task-based terminology.  These results may be flawed,
however, because in at least some instances students appeared to be looking
for the terminology that was closest to the language currently in use on our
website.

I would highly recommend reviewing the resource that Alan sent, looking at
the language you currently use, and then checking with students to see if
the language that YOU think makes sense to them ACTUALLY makes sense to
them.  :)

Hope this is helpful -
Elizabeth

On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 9:21 PM, Suelzer, Elizabeth <suelzer@...>
wrote:

> The library I work at is undergoing a site redesign. In the hopes of
> making the site more user friendly, we want to get away from using
> library terminology (when appropriate) and use terms that are more
> intuitive to our students. An example of this would be labeling the link
(Continue reading)

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Thomas Cox | 1 May 15:38
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Re: What to call the links

Elizabeth,

I'm so pleased to hear about your review of 75 schools terminology.  I would
very much like to read this.  Here at Tisch library at Tufts University we
have been doing similar research and usability studies including an
ethnographic study of how our students do research.  I'm happy to share the
results of this with anyone who is interested.

I have just re-enabled my membership on this list.  Hence I did not receive
the post containing the 'resource from Alan' that you refer to below.  If
someone could kindly forward this to me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks ever so much,

--

-- 
Thom W. Cox
Lead Web Developer
Tisch Library
Tufts University

"Every technology has a philosophy which is given
 expression in how the technology makes people use
 their minds, in how it codifies the world, and in which
 of our senses it amplifies..."

>  - Neal Postman

On 5/1/08 9:30 AM, "Elizabeth Edwards" <brixton@...> wrote:

> In the context of our website redesign, I did a review of 75 schools'
(Continue reading)

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Leo Robert Klein | 1 May 15:47

Re: What to call the links

Elizabeth Edwards wrote:

> In response, we did a language usability test with students and staff, and
> found that in some instances, our branding ("consortium loan service" rather
> than "borrow from other schools") was preferred - while in others, students
> responded to the task-based terminology.  These results may be flawed,
> however, because in at least some instances students appeared to be looking
> for the terminology that was closest to the language currently in use on our
> website.

Wow, "consortium loan service" won out over "borrow from other schools"? 
   I'd only pick the former if my name was "Consortium".

Was there any reason for this?

LEO

-- -------------------
www.leoklein.com (site)
www.ChicagoLibrarian.com (blog)

aim/msn/yhoo/goog: 'leorobertklein'
-- -------------------------------
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Elizabeth Edwards | 1 May 16:19
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Job Posting: Reference and Instruction Librarian, George Washington University

The George Washington University announces a search
for a Reference and Instruction Librarian
Eckles Library, Mount Vernon Campus

Join a dynamic, forward-looking ARL library for the opportunity to
design, deliver and promote innovative, interactive library services!

Eckles Library seeks a dynamic, creative librarian to develop new
initiatives in reference, instruction and outreach.  The position
provides reference services and implements emerging technologies for
end user services. The position also provides instruction for students
in the first year component of the University Writing Program and to
academic departments and applies principles of assessment to
instruction activities. The librarian also interacts with student
groups, faculty, and academic departments to identify needs and to
promote, enhance and evaluate services.

The Eckles Library <http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/eckles>, a branch of
GW's Gelman Library System (GLS), is a full-service academic facility,
serving as a hub for academic experiences on the Mount Vernon campus,
a predominantly freshman environment.  The campus is home to the
flagship Women's Leadership Program and the Interior Design Program;
additional areas of academic strengths are comparative politics, art,
interior design, and women's history and contemporary issues. Service,
instruction and outreach are central to the mission of the Library.
Eckles Library participates in the integrated information literacy
program and virtual reference services of the GLS.

For more details including the application procedures, please go to
our employment listing at
(Continue reading)

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Elizabeth Edwards | 1 May 16:26
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Re: What to call the links

All:

My survey of library website language is available here:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p8kTawTxfuMk3AFyxwaEaXw

Thomas, I'd be interested in the results of your study as well.  The
resource that I referred to was this site, mentioned in an earlier
message:
Library Terms That Users Understand
John Kupersmith

http://www.jkup.net/terms.html

Elizabeth

On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 9:47 AM, Leo Robert Klein <leo@...> wrote:
> Elizabeth Edwards wrote:
>
>
> > In response, we did a language usability test with students and staff, and
> > found that in some instances, our branding ("consortium loan service"
> rather
> > than "borrow from other schools") was preferred - while in others,
> students
> > responded to the task-based terminology.  These results may be flawed,
> > however, because in at least some instances students appeared to be
> looking
> > for the terminology that was closest to the language currently in use on
> our
> > website.
(Continue reading)

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Gmane