Usability testing in a library web site redesign project

An intuitive library information gateway is critical to meeting the information needs of library users in the digital age. This article describes the process involved in redesigning a library Web site. In addition to first determining the goals and requirements for the library Web site, a user and task analysis was conducted for defining the library\u27s user base and types of tasks which users might be performing at the site. Usability testing methods, such as observational interviews, provided fresh insights about how users are interacting with the library Web interface as they approach various information seeking tasks. These usability studies uncovered problems related to unclear terminology, proper use of color, size and location of navigational links, and the need for context sensitive help, built-in redundancy, and clear and consistent navigation

US government information: selected current issues in public access vs. private competition

Web information systems are having a profound effect on the way information is being disseminated today. Current technological advances have caused many government agencies to re-evaluate their practice of contracting with private sector vendors who have traditionally repackaged and marketed the agency\u27s raw data. These new opportunities for government agencies wishing to make information publicly accessible have blurred the traditional distinctions between public and private dissemination activities. Low-cost public dissemination of information has resulted in private sector vendors arguing that public electronic distribution and publication creates unfair competition. New partnerships, such as the recent venture between the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the commercial search engine, Northern Light, in developing the ``usgovsearch\u27\u27 product are also being explored. From another viewpoint, library associations are strongly supporting legislation that would broaden,strengthen, and enhance public access to electronic government information. Key issues to be discussed are: (1) the debate concerning public vs. private access to government information; (2) Does electronic access to government information eliminate the need for printed documents? and (3) Joint efforts -- when should the government team up with private sector allies to charge for information services and access

The Draft Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2005

Brief commentary by John McMullen (Professor of Labour Law, University of Leeds, United Kingdom) on draft regulations to revise the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) issued in a consultation paper by the Department of Trade and Industry on March15, 2005. Article published in Amicus Curiae – Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by SALS at the IALS (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London)

Libraries in transition: evolving the information ecology of the Learning Commons: a sabbatical report

This sabbatical report studied various models in order to determine best practices for design, implementation and service of Leaning Commons, a library service model which functionally and spatially integrates library services, information technology services, and media services to provide a continuum of services to the user

Research in Backgrounds in Librarianship

published or submitted for publicatio

Case law relating to service provision changes under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)(TUPE) Regulations 2006

Dr John McMullen, partner in Short Richardson & Forth LLP and a Visiting Professor of Law at Durham University, considers the service provision change regime under TUPE 2006 and likely impact on litigation, taking account of the emerging case law. The article is published in Amicus Curiae – Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by SALS at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. The article is based on a lecture given at the IALS in May 2010 and draws on the text of the author's looseleaf work on Business Transfers and Employee Rights

NUMBER OF NEIGHBORLY D-POLYTOPES WITH D+3 VERTICES

In this paper is proved a formula for the number of neighbourly d-polytopes with d + 3 vertices, when d is odd