[WLA-All] Fwd: ALA Website Usability Survey

[Erin Kinney]

Even if you aren't an ALA member, but have used the ALA website
recently, they are looking for input.

Erin Kinney
WLA President

>>> "Keith Michael Fiels" <rcarlson at ala.org> 9/5/2006 10:16:00 am >>>
We are currently conducting a usability assessment of our ALA website. 
This assessment is designed to take a very thorough look at the website,
its problems and strengths, in order to guide ongoing improvements,
development, and redesign.  

The usability assessment includes interviews of major stakeholder
groups, an online survey, hands-on usability testing, complaint and web
log analyses, focus group discussions, and heuristic analysis (expert
review of the site based on generally agreed-upon principles of
usability).  It began in July of 2006 and is expected to conclude late
October 2006.  UserWorks, a Maryland consulting firm, will conduct many
of the assessment activities.  
 
An online survey of user attitudes towards the website is now live and
will remain accessible from the home page for one month.  If you have
visited the ALA website recently and want to comment, please start the
survey from this page: 
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/alawebsiteresources/uasurveystart.htm
 

The survey is not intended to be a statistical assessment instrument,
but is intended to allow users to express themselves on the topic of the
website. The survey will be open to everyone who visits the website
while it is up.  Part of the purpose of the survey is to find out who
our users are, so we will also ask some demographic questions such as
membership in the association, library usage, etc. Response to these
demographic questions will, of course, be voluntary.
 
The survey includes questions used the last time we did an online
survey in order to provide like comparisons.  There will be new
questions as well, designed to determine user awareness of some of the
newer features available on or through the website (blogs, wikis and RSS
feeds, for example).  The survey will also include questions borrowed
from Digital Equipment Corporation's "System Usability Scale"
questionnaire, which has proven to be quite useful in assessing
usability since its creation in 1986.
 
This notice is being distributed to all ALA members via email.
Questions and comments about the survey or the usability assessment in
general may be directed to Rob Carlson, Web Development Manager, at
rcarlson at ala.org or 312-280-3272.

Keith Michael Fiels
Executive Director
American Library Association
(800) 545-2433 ext.1392