The LIS Web Team presented their recommendations for AD approval See: https://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/wiki/LIS/LIS_Website_Recommendations
Here’s the high-level summary; many other details in the above link, explaining thinking/research leading to these recommendations.
We recommend that the LIS Website consist of the following elements:
- A landing page with contact information, location information, hours, and links to our content offerings.
- A blog that contains information about the organizational mission and structure as well as news and articles from LIS staff.
- A wiki that holds the technical and procedural documentation maintained by LIS staff, chiefly the Helpdesk and Telephone Services documentation.
- A website in Drupal for access to Library resources.
- Subject guides for academic departments and disciplines in SubjectsPlus.
- A search portal for Library resources
We also recommend that there be some consistency across all sections of the LIS Website. Every page should have a unifying graphic element (eg, a logo) to make it clear to the user who has arrived via search that they are on a Midd-LIS page. Every page should invite feedback (“Was this page helpful?).
General questions, comments and discussion continued.
- Blog consolidation issues were discussed with the possibility of maintaining one blog for all of LIS or possibly one for internal and one for external audiences. Ian McBride suggested using one blog with various categories to assist in this issue.
- White Whale will assist in developing a unifying theme for the Library landing page.
- Concern was addressed regarding White Whale’s home page design only showing Library and not including technology links. Should they prepare two links for Library and Technology?
- We should streamline services to utilize more self-service features and contain them in one place.
- Should we include things like:
- where can we find a free computer?
- Link system status to show which printers are up and running
- Room and thesis carrel availability
- A lively discussion occured regarding LIS Staff directory photos. Discussion will continue at a future date
- Governance and advisory groups – access and structures should be made available to users
- New helpdesk software – Where are we going? Software is currently being evaluated. We need to choose a product to create web-based forms with seamless integration
Recommendations were approved by the Area Directors
Info desk discussion: it was decided to not continue staffing the info desk as of September 1st. For the short term, the desk will remain. Possible ideas for the space would be to place additional computers at the desk for walk up usage or possibly a large monitor. Mary would talk to Joseph about reproduction of brochures and materials. Gate statistics will no longer be monitored and the info desk phone extension should divert to Circulation. Carol will prepare a write-up for discussion regarding the possibility of shifting room reservations to Scheduling. An announcement needs to be prepared stating the info desk closure. Mary agreed to write something for LISt.
