ER&L 2014

4. External Relationships

usability and accessibility, assessment, user experience, cross institutional collaboration

Learn how to use structured reviews as a tool for assessing the usability of vendor e-resource platforms. Lean how to assess electronic resources for accessibility. Assemble a cross functional library working group that systematically licensed electronic resource platforms and keeps track of feedback in a coherent fashion. Learn how to use the feedback in order to influence vendors and content providers.

Librarians from Cornell and Columbia libraries created a joint working group called the 2CUL Licensed Electronic Resources Interfaces Working Group (LERIWG) to create a successful model whereby partner libraries can collaboratively evaluate vendor e-resource interfaces together, efficiently and systematically, with a minimum of administrative overhead. In this hands on workshop participants we will share the details of how we conduct our evaluations and organize ourselves across two libraries. Michigan State University libraries will also discuss and look at various ways to assess e-resources accessibility, especially for users with visual disability, by using a set of free accessibility assessment tools available for us. We will have discussions on best practices, including assessment planning and documenting the outcomes. Bring your own laptop, if possible.