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Web Advisory Committee Quarterly Report

Quarterly Report: Q2 2004-2005 (Dec 2004-Feb 2005)

24 March 2005
Sarah Jones, Chair

Accomplishments and Successes

I. Projects Completed

Statement of Goals for UTA Libraries Online:

The UTA Libraries Online:

• Provides access to information resources
• Offers library services to online visitors, just as the library's physical locations offer library services to walk-in visitors
• Communicates to the UTA Library community: informing, promoting, and building community

Web site usability research:

Gather feedback from library staff on sections of the main navigation (dropdown) menus ("Library Catalog" and "Research")

Methods: online survey combined with an in-person group staff session

Results: identified changes that can be made in the short term and issues to further investigate for future action

UTA Libraries Online changes implemented:

"Database News & Downtimes" (http://library.uta.edu/Main/sysDowntime.uta)

UTA Libraries downtime site

• The "regular" downtime site is at http://library.uta.edu/downtime/. This site is always available, but during server outages or other downtimes, the web site home page will redirect to the downtime site
• During the March OIT Data Center move, a special site will be available at http://library-backup.uta.edu/
  

II. Projects In Progress

• Content migration, in preparation for Content Management implementation
• Main navigation (dropdown) menu redesign, beginning with the Research menu
• Home page layout redesign
• Increased availability/findability of "Service Request Forms"
  

III. Projects Scheduled for Q 3 2004-2005

• Content Management implementation with Macromedia Contribute 3 (pending the content migration that is in progress)
• RefWorks database-specific use guides
• Review of Guides & Bibliographies (http://library.uta.edu/Main/guidesBibls.uta)
• Review of Help (http://library.uta.edu/Main/researchHelp.uta)
• Usability research with non-library staff web site users on revision of home page layout and on revision of main navigation (dropdown) menu
  

IV. Projects Projected for Q 3 or Q 4 2004-2005

• "Today in the Library" home page announcements (pending calendaring software)
• Accessibility assessment in conjunction with the UTA Office for Students with Disabilities, to be scheduled after content migration and navigation redesign projects are completed
  

The best thing that happened this quarter:

WAC members began forming into a productive group, developing the role and scope of the committee, and basing decisions on what would be in the best interests of UTA Libraries Online.

Opportunities

The worst thing that happened this quarter:

Delay in migrating content from the BEA WebLogic platform, in preparation for implementing content management with Macromedia Contribute