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There is also a user group that bridges faculty and grads, the postdocs. In Engineering alone there are 37 this year. They have needs for research information like faculty and grads but do not have teaching responsibilities. It would be good marketing to offer a For You for them too.

[good point. We need to find out what this group needs. I'll put it on the to-do list that we need to do a focus group with post-docs in addition to Faculty and Graduate students. According to Tovah this is a group that has not been effectively supported in general on campus. I did find the following on the Brown web site:

Brown PostDoc Association (not updated since 2004?) http://www.brown.edu/Administration/bupa/index.html

Sheridan Center has content targeted to them: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Sheridan_Center/postdocs/index.html ]

I wonder whether it would be possible to change to link for “Resources by Subject” from the e-resources Subject page (http://dl.lib.brown.edu/eresources/subject.php) to the Resource Guides homepage (http://dl.lib.brown.edu/gateway/index.php). The e-resources subject page is very limited in scope, representing only a few of Brown’s academic programs, which means that most subjects have no research link from that page.

As a department, SR has put more of its energies into the Resource Guides than into subject guides. As it stands, the Resource Guides are buried in the new Library homepage. Because we have concentrated on the Resource Guides, many of the subject guides are woefully inadequate and thus don’t show the library’s best face to the public.
[done]

I tried several tasks and accomplished them quickly. Plus I found more than enough information and further information opportunities. And I had my chances to provide feedback.

I like the content editor idea. Smart.

I wish you luck. I would think the site will be welcomed by the community.

I have been working on the alumni section. The link to alumni & donors needs to go here: http://dl.lib.brown.edu/libweb/alumni/index.php

Rather than here: http://dl.lib.brown.edu/libweb/alumni.php

Also, would it be possible to add a quick link “give to the library” that is linked to this page: http://dl.lib.brown.edu/libweb/alumni/gifts/

• Where is the list of catalogs?
• Add author to josiah search results
• Make "looking for articles by topic" more prominent
• Change "Google site search results for X at: http://www.brown.edu/library" to "Google search results for general library website" etc.
• need a new articles quick set that doesn't include josiah
• What about archiving the old site?

• There was concern about the concept of a default Top 10 list of eresources.  I shared that we recognize that it is a problem. 
• Customization: there was enthusiasm for the concept of allowing users to personalize their library web site around the resources they use and their account history.  Specific personalization features mentioned were: a record of past searches, borrowing history, and most frequently used eresources. 
• Library stats should be easy to access (for visitors and staff in particular).  In addition to details of the size of holdings, it would be nice to see a list of the library's collection strengths.
• A section for Staff would be helpful (under the For You area in the navigation)
• Undergraduate student said don't delay the launch of the new site in an effort to build customization and other more complicated features. 

Suggestion: Switch the box in the lower right hand corner with the box in the lower left hand corner. "About the Library" could have its own color-coded header and be part of the left-navigation that appears on all pages. I think the contents of this box would be useful from many subpages. I'd also like to see a "For Visitors" link from this box. When I was head of circ I never knew where to point outside users, and when I go to other library pages it is usually pretty easy to find

The box with the Brown logo etc. could float below "stephanie's area" on the right-hand side as well as the left, I think.

Global:
1) While he thought the search functionality was cool, he anticipated that users would see the search box and the search button, but miss the pull downs on the left.He suggested finding a way to tighten or stack the content so it would be easier to use (e.g. Goggle text links above the search box)

Homepage:
2) The poll should be dropped.It doesn't offer anything of value to users.The rest of the content gives them something they are looking for.People don't come to the site to "hang out" or browse.Something to consider when we share the site and this space with Stephanie.

3) Put roll over definitions on all the links in the "Top 10" box, including database titles and "electronic resources"

4) The section headers in the left sidebar are not links, and serve as group labels.The same font treatment is used on the "Resources by Course" and "Resources by Subject" link text on the green bar.This is confusing.

Resources by Course (classes.php):
5) Avoid enormous pull downs.Make the page scanable with the eyes and easy to use "find".Consider making the content text with "continue/more" links

Course Page/Tier Page:
6) Navigation on the right side should be distinct and use a different treatment than the nav on the left.It isn't different enough to stand out.

7) Everything is very boxy on the site.Consider using a rounded/oval treatment to group/frame a frequently used item such as the search box

8) He liked the breadcrumbs but admitted that without a clear hierarchy it wouldn't work well.Same goes for the color band associations.He liked having multiple ways to know where you are - breadcrumbs, color band and a title for the page.

9) Page title was not clear.In fact he didn't see it (eg Ref Works).Suggested making the title stand out with whiespace, left aligned.

9/4/06 (email)

outside expert

Hi — This is pretty minor visual stuff, but when I looked over the site I thought:

-- maybe make borders around right side sections single instead of double?
-- move the Brown shield to the top of the box it’s in, rather than in the middle, so it’s resting on the text?
-- put CDI row below other two rows, rather than on the top?
-- switch vertical positions of the questionnaire and “About the Libraries” boxes?
-- attaching a version of the “Brown University Library” .gif using the Sabon font used elsewhere, in case you want to use that rather than Times?

I really like the new site, I just tend to fixate on the small visual stuff (!).

9/2/06 (email) responded (jmr)

staff

A content correction:

These are listed as the top 10 - by who's definition?Also, Proquest is not a database, it is a vendor.

I have yet to really read it over to offer impressions, etc. but I will.This one just caught my eye.Also, I believe the name is IEEE/IET Electronic Library .They change them all the time.

Thanks - it's looking good!!!

9/1/06 (email) responded (jmr)

staff

I just took a quick look and really like the new design overall.It’s easy to navigate, even while it conveys lots of information.

My one complaint is that there’s too much bright white space, but that could be fixed by adding a background color.I’d recommend we go with something closer to pastel than the bright orange/red of our current monstrosity.

Thanks so much for your work on this.Nice job!

9/1/06 (email) responded (seb)

staff