Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library, Third Edition ALA 2005

Author: Jocye G. Saricks

Course Description and Objectives

Instead of visiting the libraries physically, more and more library patrons rely on the library’s website to download journal articles, request books, CDs, find out about the library program, and check their library records. Librarians need to be able to discern whether or not the site is truly effective. Is it easy for users to find what they need? Or is it frustrating and confusing to them?  This is where HCI comes in. It is a discipline that studies the design and evaluation of interactive computing systems for human use.

This is a course about PEOPLE, not computers, in the context of designing websites and information systems from a user-centered perspective. In particular, you will:

• Learn about the psychology of human computing
• Apply design principles to improve a website      or an interactive system to be easy to use.
• Conduct a user needs analysis
• Conduct a usability testing study. Evaluate      website/mobile devices/system design with various techniques in the      field of usability testing, including think-aloud, heuristic evaluation,      cognitive walkthrough, persona design, and card sorting (all to be  explained!)

These skills are very practical and are certainly in demand everywhere!

Students who took this class previously had this to say:

• It is good to always think about things as the user/audience may see it. This class stressed that point – we need to be open minded and user-friendly in our field, and in my opinion, in life situations.
• I really enjoyed this class as well… I wish there were more classes like this.
• Professor Zhang’s infectious enthusiasm and lively delivery were a major highlight.
• Qiping Zhang is one of the best instructors in Palmer: knowledgeable, expert, serious yet very open and able to tailor examples on the fly. A true asset to Palmer and LIU.
• Extremely knowledgeable
• Excellent professor, very knowledgeable!

Registration and Contact

To register, the course number is LIS 707-001, #3287.

Dr. Qiping Zhang’s area of expertise is human-computer interaction. Please email her off the list at qiping.zhang@liu.edu if you have any questions about this course or if you wish to have a copy of the course syllabus now.

LIS 610: Reader’s Advisory: West (SSII; TU 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30)

LIS 611 Film and Media Collections): East (7/16, 7/17, 7/23, 7/24, 7/30; 11:30- 5)

LIS 690: Internship West (5/22, 6/26, 7/31; 4:30- 6:20)

LIS 901-01 Digital Humanities East (June 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10; 11:30 – 5)   Text:

LIS 901-02 Text Analytics West (SSI and II, TH 5 -7:40)

LIS 901-03: Managing Ephemera West (F July 12, 19, 26; Aug. 2, 9, 16; 10 – 5)

LIS 901-05 Copyright and Library Law LL1-05—one level below the lobby (SS III, T/TH 6 – 8:30)

At this time, only the following texts are required:

LIS 901-01, Digital Humanities; Prof. Friedland :

LIS 901-05, Copyright and Library Law; Prof. Cram

Peter Hirtle’s Copyright and Cultural Institutions. The book is available for free under a Creative Commons license.

Sorry for the inconvenience. We hope to see you on the new page!

http://www.facebook.com/PalmeratLIU

I am very happy to announce that the Palmer School now has a Twitter account! @LIUPalmerSchool
Page: https://twitter.com/#!/LIUPalmerSchool

I will be tweeting a lot about job hunting and career tips and advice (of course!) but will also tweet about other things of interest to the Palmer community.

Thanks,

Ellen

———————————-

Ellen Mehling, MSLIS
Director, Westchester Program and Internships
ellen.mehling@liu.edu

Fill out an advising worksheet to help track your progress! Page 2 has course recommendations for Archives and Records Management and Rare Books and Special Collections.

If you want general advice on which courses are best to take based on your current interests, please make an appointment with an advisor!