Comments on: Our Assumptions Require Caution http://acrlog.org/2005/12/24/our-assumptions-require-caution/ Blogging by and for academic and research librarians Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:32:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heather W. http://acrlog.org/2005/12/24/our-assumptions-require-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Heather W. Thu, 29 Dec 2005 23:11:37 +0000 http://acrlblog.org/2005/12/24/our-assumptions-require-caution/#comment-389 I've seen this happen repeatedly with something as central as a library's home page. e.g. A library designs a new website based on assumptions of how people perform research THEN they test it on users. If it's already a done deal, how useful is that testing? We seem to be in such a hurry to roll out something new that we don't give enough thought to whether it's actually usable. Our library recently appointed an assessment team that I hope will help us be more strategic in rolling out new services. We'll find out soon since we are about to provide access to a metasearch service. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly with something as central as a library’s home page. e.g. A library designs a new website based on assumptions of how people perform research THEN they test it on users. If it’s already a done deal, how useful is that testing? We seem to be in such a hurry to roll out something new that we don’t give enough thought to whether it’s actually usable.

Our library recently appointed an assessment team that I hope will help us be more strategic in rolling out new services. We’ll find out soon since we are about to provide access to a metasearch service.

]]> By: Barbara Fister http://acrlog.org/2005/12/24/our-assumptions-require-caution/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Barbara Fister Tue, 27 Dec 2005 19:35:33 +0000 http://acrlblog.org/2005/12/24/our-assumptions-require-caution/#comment-373 Amen! Lots of food for thought in this post, Steven. I couldn't agree more that following the lead of commercial websites may not automatically suit our users' needs. Amen! Lots of food for thought in this post, Steven. I couldn’t agree more that following the lead of commercial websites may not automatically suit our users’ needs.

]]>