A centre of expertise in digital information management A QA Framework To Support Your Library Web Site Review Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath URL: UKOLN is supported by: This presentation and associated files are available at: This presentation and associated files are available at:

A centre of expertise in digital information management Contents Background A QA Approach The QA Focus Project Application To LSE Library Advice Questions

A centre of expertise in digital information management About Me Brian Kelly: Funded by JISC to provide the Web Focus advisory service to the UK HE and FE community Based in UKOLN, a centre of expertise in digital information management Located at the University of Bath Project manager of the JISC-funded QA Focus advisory service Background

A centre of expertise in digital information management Background There is a clear need for checking processes for Web services in order to: Ensure that resources comply with appropriate standards in order to maximise their interoperability and avoid platform- and application-dependencies Ensure that resources work correctly today in a range of environments (e.g. Opera, Mac, … users) Ensure that resources can be repurposed:  New devices such as PDAs  Accessibility aids  By software  Migrate to new formats (XHTML 2.0) Ensure that the content is accurate, relevant, timely, comprehensible, … Background

A centre of expertise in digital information management Approaches A variety of approaches can be taken: Centralised approach, with all publications being vetted by central body Periodic reviews Peer reviews Independent reviews Automated testing Manual checking which may: Check compliance against documented criteria Be open-ended Background

A centre of expertise in digital information management A QA Approach An approach based on Quality Assurance (QA): Requires documented criteria Addresses work flow issues (why did the system fail and how can we fix it) Based on systematic checking, audit trails, etc. QA: May be considered bureaucratic and time- consuming Can be implemented in a lightweight fashion and provide clear benefits to organisations Background

A centre of expertise in digital information management QA Focus QA Focus: Funded by JISC to support 5/99 programme Seeks to ensure project deliverables are interoperable and comply with appropriate standards & best practices Provides advice on appropriate QA procedures Provided by UKOLN and AHDS Our approach: Surveys of communities Provide advice and commission case studies Recommend QA Policies Promote use of compliance tools Seek to embed QA practices within institutions Background

A centre of expertise in digital information management Application To LSE Library The QA Focus methodology has been applied to selected resources on the LSE library Web site: Compliance with standards Formats Repurposing Key navigational aspects In addition some suggestions for enhancement are provided Note the focus is on the technical aspects LSE Review

A centre of expertise in digital information management Surveys (1) A number of surveys of a selection of resources was carried out using a variety of automated tools LSE Surveys

A centre of expertise in digital information management Surveys (2) Surveys (continued) LSE Surveys

A centre of expertise in digital information management Surveys (3) Surveys (continued) LSE Surveys

A centre of expertise in digital information management QA Framework Consider deploying QA Focus's methodology: Make systematic use of a self-assessment toolkit to validate QA (as discussed) Provide policies which document standards and best practices you will deploy, the architecture used for implementation and the approach to checking compliance Implement in areas such as metadata, software development, digitisation, … Mandate QA when commissioning new work Advice See "Deployment Of Quality Assurance Procedures For Digital Library Programmes" paper which outlines CDLR's comments on this methodology for Victorian Times See "Deployment Of Quality Assurance Procedures For Digital Library Programmes" paper which outlines CDLR's comments on this methodology for Victorian Times

A centre of expertise in digital information management QA Policies You may find it easier to improve your Web site if you have documented QA policies and procedures Advice See Area: Web standards Policy: Web resources will be based on HTML 4.0 and CSS 2.0. Resource will comply with these standards. We will seek to migrate to XHTML 1.0. Architecture: Dreamweaver is the recommended tool. HTML generated by scripts will output to XHTML 1.0. Exceptions: Proprietary format converted to HTML (e.g. MS PowerPoint) will not necessarily be compliant. Compliance Testing: Authors are expected to check compliance when updating resources. Monthly batch compliance reports will be carried out and an audit trail kept. Area: Web standards Policy: Web resources will be based on HTML 4.0 and CSS 2.0. Resource will comply with these standards. We will seek to migrate to XHTML 1.0. Architecture: Dreamweaver is the recommended tool. HTML generated by scripts will output to XHTML 1.0. Exceptions: Proprietary format converted to HTML (e.g. MS PowerPoint) will not necessarily be compliant. Compliance Testing: Authors are expected to check compliance when updating resources. Monthly batch compliance reports will be carried out and an audit trail kept.

A centre of expertise in digital information management Advice Compliance Checking Tools Ask your Web manager if he can implement this lightweight solution You will need tools to ensure that you comply with your policies As an example of approach which provides easier access to testing tools, see the,tools approach deployed on UKOLN Web site. This approach: Applies to all resources on Web site Covers HTML and CSS validation and various other tests Some recursive apps (,rvalidate ) Easily implemented with single line redirect As an example of approach which provides easier access to testing tools, see the,tools approach deployed on UKOLN Web site. This approach: Applies to all resources on Web site Covers HTML and CSS validation and various other tests Some recursive apps (,rvalidate ) Easily implemented with single line redirect

A centre of expertise in digital information management Exploit Advice QA Focus has a range of advisory documents, case studies, papers, etc. Feel free to: Use the advice provided Contribute to the case studies QA Focus has a range of advisory documents, case studies, papers, etc. Feel free to: Use the advice provided Contribute to the case studies Advice

A centre of expertise in digital information management Change Control Strategies Strategies for deploying new best practices: Training, organisational commitment, … New templates, updating scripts, etc. Use of automated tools Advice The online version of Tidy can convert resources to valid XHTML

A centre of expertise in digital information management Questions Any questions?