Minutes of User Interface Task Group Meeting

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Present: Joanne Dugan, Janet Evander, Diane Fuller, Heidi Hanson, Sean Henry, Linda Seguin, Cindy Todd, Susan Wheeler, Laura Wrubel, Betty Day

Notetaker: Janet Evander

Topic 1: Minutes of February meeting

Outcomes:

• The group approved the minutes.
• The group agreed that minute taking responsibilities should rotate; Laura will draw up a schedule.

Topic 2: Journals subset redefinition

Heidi demonstrated the changes that have been made in the test catalog so that annuals are now picked up in journal searches. The changes will require a rethinking of some of the language describing the Journals search. The Advanced Search limit for journals/newspapers/magazines still needs to be changed to produce the same results as the new Journals search.

Outcomes:

• Heidi will consult with the programmers to determine what is involved in changing the definition for the Advanced Search limit for journals/newspapers/magazines. If it is a manageable task, she will let the group know when it is applied in the test catalog. In any case, she will report back to the group.
• Heidi will change the language on the Journals Basic and Advanced Search pages from "This is a subset of the CATALOG: journals, newspapers, and magazines only." to "This is a subset of the CATALOG: journals, newspapers, and magazines.
• Heidi will change the language in the Help file to "Allows searching for journals, newspapers, magazines, and other periodically published materials (e.g. annuals).
• The wording will remain as is in the advanced search limit for journals/newspapers/magazines.
• Cindy will draft a message to the COI explaining the changes to the Journals subset.

Topic 3: Error messages in Aleph and Research Port

The group reviewed the messages received to date and posted on the UITG wiki: http://www.itd.umd.edu/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=UserInterface.ErrorMessages

Outcome: A subgroup consisting of Lenore, Diane, Sean, and Susan will draft solutions to the error message problem reports. This subgroup will have ongoing responsibility to monitor and propose solutions to error messages.

Topic 4: Catalog screen changes

Heidi reviewed the changes made in test PAC as recommended at the last meeting.

Outcomes:

• Heidi will work on the alignment problem for the "location" field on the full view of the record.
• Heidi will suppress the frequency and former frequency fields on the basic full view of the record (MARC fields 310 and 321).
• Cindy will revise her message to COI explaining the Catalog screen changes so that it includes the suppression of frequency/former frequency and send it out to the COI when Heidi completes a couple small changes. She will request feedback by the end of ten business days.
• Future topics will include: the language on the search shortcuts and the proposal to group all title fields on the basic full record.

Topic 5: Find It interface issues

Laura reviewed the chart of comments and feedback the ERIC 2 group compiled on Find It in the catalog since the forum and the soft release.

Outcome: The usability subgroup will reconvene to address the issues (Cindy, Heidi, Janet, Laura, Linda.)

Topic 6: Shibboleth and changes to interface

Laura demonstrated the interface changes associated with implementing Shibboleth (an authentication system that is independent of the Ex Libris products) through Research Port. She explained that the Catalog cannot be Shibbolized until version 18. The consortial Illiad will be Shibbolized next.

Outcome:

• Laura will make some changes to the presentation of the new pages based on discussion.
• Bold "Please choose your institution:" and unbold all the institution names.
• Add space after the last institution and change the language that follows to "Not affiliated with USMAI? Log in as a guest:" with the "Guest Login" button following the text on the same line. De-link "USMAI."
• On the login screen change the Title from "Access to Library Services" to "Login to Library Services." Suppress "Please log in."
• Laura will add a link to the USMAI privacy policy to the login screen.
• The group recommends moving forward with Shibboleth in Research Port.

Next Meeting: University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Tuesday April 4th, 10:00-noon.