WSTF: Hm Pg - Getting Started & About Us

1. The Getting Started is an issue for me, too. If the WAI Groups are 
elevated as they are, and I think they should be, we need to have 
Getting started at the same level because the "newbies" are our 
primary audience. From the card sort, if Getting Started was not put 
in G & R it was on its own at the top level as I recall.  I really 
don't see the logic of burying it under anything because it hides it 
from our target audience.

The alternative is to do what Justin and Carol are suggesting, 
putting them in the upper right navigation. Since the links in the 
upper right are so small, I think that Getting Started could get lost 
visually, in my opinion. We also need to reckon with banner 
blindness, what is in the banner area is often ignored. I can live 
with it there versus where it is at now but would prefer a more 
prominent level and location.

When you think our our two main audiences and not structurally or 
organizationally, then our two main focus points or major links in 
the navigation should accommodate those audiences. I think the most 
user-centric approach is to put Getting Started in the links on the 
left on par with the WAI Groups and expandable if there is something 
to expand. If there, it is easy to find and near the top: WAI Home, 
Getting Started, Guidelines & Resources, WAI Groups.

2. A second issue I have is using the "About Us" in multiple places: 
on the home page, on an About Us page etc.  I think we should be 
careful to have an About Us page and have that wording used no where 
else.  That means we need to be a bit more creative about the title 
on the home page.  Maybe "Inside WAI" or "What WAI Does/Is" or 
something but not "About Us" in that spot.  That way, in the 
paragraphs that may be maintained on the home page, you can link to 
the "About WAI" page and get the details.  I would do everything 
possible to have "About Us" be used only to refer to the one About Us 
page and nothing else on the site to avoid confusion.

Charmane


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MSU: Advancing Knowledge. Transforming Lives.

Libraries, Computing & Technology: Connecting People and Information

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Have a Productive Day!
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Charmane K. Corcoran
Information & Accessibility Specialist
Michigan State University
Client Advocacy Office
316A Computer Center
East Lansing MI 48824

E-mail:	corcora1@msu.edu
Phone:	Dept. Office - 517/353-4856
	Direct/Vmail - 517/355-4500 Ext. 244
FAX: 	Office: 517/355-0141

HmPg:	http://www.msu.edu/~corcora1/

Received on Monday, 28 June 2004 13:50:34 UTC