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Day 5 Dec 06

Entries 3 Total

great IM transaction

Dec 5, ’06 11:52 PM

UPenn librarian Kathryn posted this amazing transcript of an IM transaction on the UPenn Library Staff Blog. There’s nothing library related in the conversation, unless you consider creating warm & fuzzy feelings library work, which you should. Another less understanding librarian could have scoffed at the seemingly random conversation initiated by the patron, but Kathryn doesn’t skip a beat. It is through these interactions that we can create good will towards our institutions. The patron here even offers to bring the librarian a snack! Enjoy this great example of IM creating community!

[15:59] [patronscreenname]: it’s gorgeous out. you should really get outside to the green.
[15:57] [patronscreenname]: man skittles and coffee are a bad combination
[15:58] Upennlib: …agreed. but do you realize you’re IM-ing the Penn Libraries reference chat account?
[15:58] [patronscreenname]: yes
[15:59] Upennlib: (I would love to get outside to the green.)
[15:59] [patronscreenname]: I always wonder who is at the other end
[15:59] Upennlib: well, then. look at that.
[15:59] [patronscreenname]: can I bring you anything?
[15:59] Upennlib: I’m good, thanks. enjoy the sun for all us on the inside!
[15:59] [patronscreenname]: of course
[15:59] [patronscreenname]: enjoy
[16:00] Upennlib: thanks. take care!

[via]

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a visit to the oregon state library

Dec 5, ’06 6:25 PM

the neatest looking stackThis afternoon I drove to Salem to meet with State Librarian Jim Scheppke, and some of the state library staff to talk about the future of the Oregon School Library Information System. OSLIS is, among other things, a resource sharing cooperative for school libraries across the state. We generated some great ideas for “OSLIS 2.0,” and if things come to fruition it has the potential to be BIG.

After lunch I got a tour of the library, which has reference service, internet stations, and a reading room open to the public. I snapped some pics of the neat stuff, including a huge card catalog, and it is all in a flickr set called visiting oregon state library.

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The 100% Easy-2-Read Standard

Dec 5, ’06 6:00 PM

Japanese web and user interface design/branding firm Information Architects have a mini-manifesto called The 100% Easy-2-Read Standard that is making the rounds. Library websites could learn a few things from this list. Be sure to click through to the article to see their design philosophy in action and read some details about each of their points. But no calling me out about the default text size of this site!

Most websites are crammed with small text that is a pain to read. Why?

Don’t tell us busy pages look better
Crowded websites don’t look good, they look nasty.

Don’t tell us lots of links work better
Filling pages with stuff has never helped usability. It’s lazyness that makes you throw all kinds of stuff at us. We want you to think and preselect what is important. We don’t want to do your work.

Don’t tell us to adjust the font size
We don’t want to change our browser settings every time we visit a website!

Don’t tell us scrolling is bad
Because then all websites are bad. There is nothing wrong with scrolling. Nothing at all. Just as there is nothing wrong with flipping pages in books.

Don’t tell us text is not important
95% of what is commonly referred to as web design is typography.

Don’t tell us to get glasses
Rather stop licking your screen, lean back(!) and continue reading in a relaxed position.

There is no reason for cramming information onto the screen. It’s just a stupid collective mistake.

Again, read the full article, The 100% Easy-2-Read Standard.

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