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Web Advisory Committee Charge

Committee Membership

The Web Advisory Committee (WAC) is comprised of two types of members:

1. Standing Members (appointed permanently by virtue of their position)
2. At Large Members (appointed on a rotating basis)

Standing Members include the following or their designees:

• 2 representatives from DLS -- Sarah Jones (Chair), Marie Irwin
• 1 representative from IL -- Mary Jo Lyons
• 1 representative from IR -- Jim Wellvang
• 1 representative from SPCO -- Cathy Spitzenberger
• 1 representative from IS -- Suzanne Beckett

At Large Members include three additional committee members who are appointed on a rotating basis. Ideally these appointees should be staff members who are involved in daily customer interactions that involve using the Libraries' Web presence. At Large Members will be appointed by the Library Management Team and serve a one year term (September through August).

At Large Members for 2004/05:

• Josie Murdoch
• Gerald Alvarez
• Barbara Howser

Charge for the committee

The charge for the Web Advisory Committee is to strengthen the library's public Web presence by exploring ways to enhance UTALO and by making recommendations for implementing enhancements. Members of the Web Advisory Committee are to work with Digital Library Services staff to continuously evolve and improve the Libraries' Web presence (UTALO). Committee members will be expected to research issues, to take an active part in discussions and decision making, to actively solicit staff input in making recommendations and decisions, and to take part in usability activities. Members of WAC are a critical communication link in the Web development process. Each member will conscientiously give and gather opinions in development situations and will supply updates on developments to others in the Libraries. All members of the committee are expected to create good will and excitement within the Libraries and across the campus about developing, expanding, and using new online services, tools and resources. The group should:

• resolve usability issues
• approve major design, content or structural changes to UTALO
• participate in the design of interfaces with site developers by providing feedback and guidance
• identify and recommend new functionality to be included in UTALO
• set priorities for the development and implementation of online services and tools
• provide input on overall Web issues
• meet on a regular basis -- initially meeting should be held every other week

Goals

• Within this group, and meeting with other groups, consider the question of the definition of an online library for us and for our users, and the desirable services that it can provide
• Ensure that UTALO is an optimal, usable web site that benefits our user constituency
• Improve communication with our staff and user community about UTALO
• Engage library staff in the development and improvement of UTALO
• Guide the development of Library Web services and provide recommendations for improvements to UTALO
• Create a functional specification (not a technical specification) for a customized and personalized Library web site
• Review potential vendor products against the specification, and make recommendations that can be additional reviewed against the technical infrastructure
• Work with Digital Library Services to make user interface improvements
• Set priorities for implementation of new Library Web services
• Develop a systematic plan for conducting web usability testing and gathering customer feedback on UTA Libraries Online
• Make written and verbal quarterly progress reports to the Library Management Team on a quarterly basis (November, February, May, August)

Library Management Team
September 2004