WebVoyáge Redesign

UT Arlington

LibraryWebVoyáge Advisory CommitteeJoshua BeenMichael DoranBrad GullifordHelen HoughHeather ScalfPeter Zhang

Integrated Library Systems Any integrated library system (ILS) such as

Voyager is, by definition, complex. Acquisitions Cataloging Circulation OPAC

An online public access catalog (OPAC) interface to an ILS is complex

The “Plan”

Make OPAC searching simple, easy, and intuitive – by default

Retain advanced search features – by explicit choice

Make record displays concise – by default Retain more elaborate record displays – by

explicit choice Incorporate usability best practices Add features

Types of Changes/Improvements Aesthetic

Graphics (buttons, logo, banner) Colors

Functional User interface (e.g. search front & back end) Record display Features (e.g. patron initiated holds/recalls)

Supplemental New Books List External authentication

Trolling for Ideas Looking at other Voyager customer sites Reading the voyager-l list Keeping current

e.g. NGC4LIB list (Next generation catalogs for libraries)

Attending Voyager conferences EndUser in Chicago South Central Voyager Users Group

Becoming knowledgeable about web usability and user interface design

Initial Goals

Fix external authentication Implement a simple “Simple Search” Re-implement a JavaScript time-out timer Incorporate new university branding/identity Implement OpenURL link resolving Revamp help pages

The Art of the Possible

Constraints – WebVoyáge is a “black box”

WebVoyágeprogram

Voyagerdata

WebVoyágeconfig files

Browser

The Art of the Possible

Work around – a wrapper script

WebVoyágeprogram

Voyagerdata

WebVoyágeconfig files

Browser

wrapper

Voyager & WebVoyáge “Hacks” Some are simple (once you know how)

extra tab - opac.ini hack Cascading style sheets

Some are moderately complex TAMU’s OpenURL link resolver implementation Pwebrecon.cgi wrapper

Some are more complex group study rooms schedule

Hacks - Pros and Cons

Customer created Must be locally maintained, troubleshot Often must be re-implemented after upgrades What works now, might not work in future

versions of Voyager

Simple is as simple does

Simple is as simple doesCurrent WebVoyáge simple search

Simple is as simple does

Proposed WebVoyáge simple search

Simple interface, powerful search Designed for the “unsophisticated” user Words within quotes are treated as a phrase Words outside of quotes are automatically

boolean ANDed Keyword anywhere search (all fields of the

record – as defined in SysAdmin – are searched)

Relevancy ranked results * i.e. Google-like – “expected” search behavior

Look and feel – current

Look and feel – proposed

Return of the session timer

Take WebVoyáge for a test drive “New” WebVoyáge is on Voyager test server

http://vts.uta.edu/ functional – not just a mock-up compare and contrast under development

…and let us know what you think via the blog: UTA Library Catalog Design at presentations (like this) talk to a member of the WebVoyáge Advisory

Committee (or the whole committee)

Mark your calendars

May 14, 2007 – the “Big Change” Cut-over from current to new interface

Additional presentations dates/times/topics/audiences TBD e.g. usability primer for interested staff

Comments & questions