Charge:

The committee is charged with improving the usability of the library’s electronic interfaces to our collections and services. This charge will apply most immediately to the maintenance, ongoing evaluation and design of the library's online catalog (Orbis), and web site (the Front Door).The Committee will also assist the Orbis2 project in the implementation of the forthcoming MetaLib initiative and will continue to study, plan and expand that initiative. More generally, the membership will explore the application of new Web technologies to advance the usefulness of the library's most prominent digital gateways. As new library interfaces, products and projects are released, the charge to this Committee will expand accordingly. The committee will report to the Service Quality Improvement Council.

General Goals:

• Promote the concept of unified, harmonious designs for all the library’s public interfaces to create a clear identity for the library
• Test the usability of public interfaces with Yale students, faculty, and staff
• Make decisions about interface design issues
• Delegate and oversee day-to-day maintenance and long-term evaluation and enhancement of the library’s public interfaces
• Coordinate the revision of help screens and user documentation when necessary
• Recommend staff training
• Publicize new features

Web Site Goals:

• Continue to improve the design, organization and navigation of the library’s suite of central Web pages
• Investigate and promote emerging Web products and technologies.

Online Catalog Goals:

• Implement improvements to the catalog through design changes, informative messages, indexing modifications, etc.
• Monitor Endeavor’s WebVoyage enhancement list and lobby for the resolution of key problems, bugs, etc.
• Monitor and assist in the implementation and testing of new WebVoyage releases.

Resources:

To accomplish this charge, the committee will draw on staff resources in the Systems Office and general administrative support. Specifically, the work of the committee will be supported by assigned staff time as follows: up to .25 FTE Database Administration professional, up to .25 FTE Web and Workstation Support Group professional, up to .25 FTE administrative support for Web development and the MetaLib project manager. The committee will have an annual budget of $5,000 for graphic design projects and usability testing.