WAC: Home > About WAC > Minutes > March 29, 2005

Web Advisory Committee Minutes, March 29, 2005

Minutes-taker: Cathy Spitzenberger
Attending: Sarah J., Marie I., Gretchen T., Barbara H., Suzanne B., Josie M., Cathy S.
Absent: Jim W., Gerald A.

Sarah called the meeting to order and facilitated discussion.

Meeting day discussion: After considering several possible times on the days of Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, it was tentatively decided to hold meetings on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:00. Next meeting will be scheduled for this timeframe, and further discussion will follow at that time before a final decision is made.

Continued discussion re "Research Tools" menu:

• General discussion ensued on paring down the list as presented at last month's meeting. After considering Marie's suggestions for a reduced listing, consensus was that the original list should remain with some minor changes and rearrangements.
• The "Find ..." terminology was discussed and ultimately rejected as being too redundant and unnecessary.
• "Resources by Subject" link should be in the list and at a prominent level.
• Replace "Data Sets" with a more general heading such as "Statistics & Data."
• The "Research Help" link was questioned. Discussion followed about leaving it in this section as a "How to" resource which will include links to RefWorks, how to get help from a person, or how to search a specific database.
• Include a link to "UTA Course Guides."
• The resulting list:

  RESEARCH TOOLS

  • Library Catalog
  • Library Databases
  • Resources by Subject
  • Articles
  • Books
  • Web Sites
  • Journals
  • News & Newspapers
  • Dissertations & Theses
  • Statistics & Data
  • Special Collections & Archives
  • UTA Course Guides
  • Research Help
    

• Next step - usability study? Discussion ensued about designing an informal usability study using a mock-up of the "Research Tools" menu item with links to typical pages; then present random patrons with research problems and ask them how they would go about using this menu to find their resources. It was decided to table plans for the usability study for now until all main menu items have been discussed and reworked.
  

Assignments for next meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 (1:30 - 3:00 p.m.):

• Compile your suggestions, questions, discussion points re the "Services" menu items.
• Revisit the meeting time question.