Guidelines

Follow existing web guidelines whenever possible, including use of color and recommended fonts.

Keep consistent with rest of Libraries' pages.

Make font in box titles bigger and bolder.  (Darcy's working on.)

Set apart the title from the rest of box content.

Use "friendly" URLs (shortcut URLs) for all pages.

Easier for users to remember, cleaner looking on page

Contact information should always display in top right.  People shouldn't be required to use the designated profile box.

To make the location of contact info consistent.  Different guides/groups have different needs, and default profile box is limiting.

http://libguides.mit.edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/aecontent.php?pid=9490

Label the profile box (and all boxes!) wisely:

• Keep default "My Profile"
• Ask Us
• Subject Specialist
• Dewey Library (or other library name)
• Questions?

Make content of box obvious to users.

Staff photo use guidelines should be followed, but people should hide the photo box if they don't use it.  No avatars! 

Some people are adamantly opposed to posting their picture, but some like putting a face to the library.  Avatars are distracting, and could vary wildly.

http://libguides.mit.edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/usability

Adding chat contact info is optional.  People are welcome to embed Meebo boxes, but color should match with our color scheme.

Not everyone likes chat!  Meebo offers some gaudy color schemes, so some guidelines would help.

Set a maximum of one row of tabs (5 or 6, max).  Subtabs may be used, but should be kept as simple as possible and labelled wisely.

To make navigation easy, and to reduce clutter. 

When given an option, people should have links open in a new tab/window.

To make navigating back to the page easier.

No limits on comments feature, besides being set to "moderated."

Some people may find this useful, but others might not want comments on their page.

No set limit to number of boxes allowed on page, but if it looks cluttered or if scrolling is excessive, creator should consider reorganizing or using Dreamweaver

Allow freedom of choice and allow content to govern design

Creators should choose to "link to" or "copy" wisely.  Any time the content should be maintained by one person, use link to (ex., search box on template page)

People won't have to maintain content unnecessarily.

http://libguides.mit.edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/tools

Don't use tags feature for now.

Looks cluttered, could get unwieldy quickly.  If some people use tags more than others, it could seem as if certain topics are underrepresented. 

http://libguides.dartmouth.edu

2 and 3 column layouts are both usable.

Lets the content inform design.

Members of the task force (& Nicole & Darcy?) will offer 4 or 5 hour-long sessions in July to teach procedures & policies for using LibGuides.  Training will be aimed at people making pages for public use, but anyone is welcome.

Learning is fun!  Focusing on training people to make public pages is manageable.