Maybe it's because Yoda* is looking over my shoulder every day that my sentence structure is changing :)
I've been toying w/ the idea of a top 10 list - those things/features/ooh's and aah's that patrons would love to see/have/experience on our site. There are many ways to develop such a list....one of them is purely academic, sit at desk, type what comes out of brain. But i much prefer the backyard brainstorming method - so much more can be accomplished from the tree swing........ So here's my attempt, I got to 7.......
1. single sign on - when i enter the site and enter my library card #, i never have to enter it again as long as i'm within arapahoelibraries.org
2. customized website - i go to the home page but then have the ability to log in and see only the parts of the website that are relevant to me. No, i don't want storytime information but yes, let me know about teen programs or volunteer opportunities. RSS feed me when a new Brian Jacques book is added to the catalog. Let me comment on titles i've checked out. It's all about my experience!
3. rss feeds - yes spoon feed me what i want - that's what makes it relevant and keeps me coming back for more!
4. tagging and discussing - there's probably a gob of studies that show that we want to express ourselves online ...... leaving my comment about my favorite book or not so favorite movie is one more means of self expression. it's like voting, you have the option but you can choose not to exercise it.
5. community feel - what about the website can make it feel like community to you? would it be the ability to comment? access to the schools? access to the HOA meetings? would it be useful if community groups could come to our site to post their upcoming meetings?
6. personalization -i'm fine roaming around on my own but when i have a question i'd like ms dewey right there to turn to so my question can be instantly answered. well, maybe not ms dewey but you get the drift........
7. from the back end - wouldn't it be cool if staff had access to input content into our database directly? this is a process and procedure question but one that is certainly not out of the question
8.
9.
10.
What are your top 8 or 9 10 things?
*Yoda is a poster from Star Wars - "Read and The Force is with you."
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2 comments:
Some quick thoughts and not as eloquent as Cynthia (or even Yoda for that matter)
1.Spell checking/correction in searches
2.Customization/personalization ...not just the teens like to change their colors, fonts, backgrounds...and also personalization for the types of information patrons are looking for
3. Finding the info they want fast and easy with minimal number of clicks
4. Multimedia-videos, slideshows, moving, music, visually appealing stuff, but with an option for a "basic" model for people with slower modems too
5. Printer friendly options for things like recommended booklists
6. Speaking of music, what about the option to listen to music while browsing the site with a radio button or something
7. Ability to comment or make own suggestions. When you read a really good book, sometimes you've just gotta tell someone...
8. Notification when the latest Grisham or Evanovich is ordered so they can be put on the hold list
9. This is not really a "web thing" exactly but I've heard that some ILS systems may have a feature to get a text message when a hold is ready as opposed to a call or a e-mail.
10.Suggestions for "If you like this" or "Other people who liked this also liked"... a la amazon.com
OK--so that was not as short and sweet as I initially intended but once I get started...
Monica
I like all your suggestions, Cynthia, and Monica added some more really good ones.
I don't think there's anything I can add to these lists but I can clarify #7 on your list. When we get Encore, staff (and patrons) will be able to add their own content (subject headings) which will show in the form of "tag clouds" for each record.
I think patrons are used to Amazon's bells and whistles and the more we can offer them of that kind of content, the happier they'll be.
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