RBC Info Commons Website What we need to know before we start? by Mukul Seth

Competitive Intelligence What do other Information Commons websites cover? What do other Information Commons websites cover? Which topics are the most popular? Which topics are the most popular? How are they incorporated into the site? How are they incorporated into the site?

IC websites looked at Emory University Emory University of Arizona University of Arizona University of Minnesota University of Minnesota University of Iowa University of Iowa University of Calgary University of Calgary Purdue University Purdue University of Georgia University of Georgia U. Southern California U. Southern California Queen's University Queen's University Indiana University Indiana University of Toronto University of Toronto Australian National U. Australian National U. Saskatchewan U. Saskatchewan University of Otago University of Otago Dalhousie University Dalhousie University

Content Categories What content is on the websites? What content is on the websites? Which of these categories are relevant to our Information Commons? Which of these categories are relevant to our Information Commons? How important our they to us? How important our they to us?

Instructions/Learning Aids Online tutorials on printing, photocopying, scanning, using a USB drive… Online tutorials on printing, photocopying, scanning, using a USB drive… Help with applications such as Microsoft Office, Quest, myWaterloo, UWAce, and the TRELLIS catalogue Help with applications such as Microsoft Office, Quest, myWaterloo, UWAce, and the TRELLIS catalogue Usually linked to the How to.. Pages of the library website Usually linked to the How to.. Pages of the library website see Dalhousie University Dalhousie UniversityDalhousie University

Hardware/Software How many workstations (sit-down/stand- up) there are and their specifications How many workstations (sit-down/stand- up) there are and their specifications Are there any special multimedia workstations? Are there any special multimedia workstations? What software packages they have installed What software packages they have installed see U. Calgary, U. Arizona U. CalgaryU. ArizonaU. CalgaryU. Arizona

What’s New What current events are taking place in the library, the university, maybe the country What current events are taking place in the library, the university, maybe the country Information about new software, and software updates Information about new software, and software updates How to get involved in the library? How to get involved in the library? see U. Dalhousie, U. Toronto U. DalhousieU. TorontoU. DalhousieU. Toronto

Virtual Tour Pictures of the facilities, linked from an interactive floor map of the library Pictures of the facilities, linked from an interactive floor map of the library Or a few 360 degree views of the IC areas and other areas of the library (would need users to have quick time installed) Or a few 360 degree views of the IC areas and other areas of the library (would need users to have quick time installed) see U. Iowa, Purdue U. IowaPurdueU. IowaPurdue

Feedback Enables the users to provide us with comments and criticism Enables the users to provide us with comments and criticism What they like, and what they don’t like What they like, and what they don’t like This information is very useful to us because it helps us get an understanding of what works well and what doesn’t This information is very useful to us because it helps us get an understanding of what works well and what doesn’t see U. Calgary, U. Dalhousie U. CalgaryU. DalhousieU. CalgaryU. Dalhousie

Support Chat online, , etc Chat online, , etc This is the support that is available online This is the support that is available online The library already has a page that has these The library already has a page that has these We can link directly to that page to minimize redundancy We can link directly to that page to minimize redundancy see U. Georgia, U. Waterloo U. GeorgiaU. WaterlooU. GeorgiaU. Waterloo

Links toolbar The main library links should be made available The main library links should be made available The IC links should remain consistent on all IC pages The IC links should remain consistent on all IC pages The more relevant links should stand out The more relevant links should stand out see U. Calgary, U. Iowa U. CalgaryU. IowaU. CalgaryU. Iowa

How is the IC site linked? What is the IC website linked as What is the IC website linked as –e.g. “Computing in the Library” Which category does it fall under Which category does it fall under –e.g. “Services”, “Resources”, etc… How prominent is the link? How prominent is the link? –Does it appear at the top? –Does it appear at the bottom?

How is the IC site linked? Most universities just use “Information Commons”, or “Learning Commons” Most universities just use “Information Commons”, or “Learning Commons” It is listed under different categories for just about every university It is listed under different categories for just about every university Some of the common ones are “Services”, or “Quick Links” Some of the common ones are “Services”, or “Quick Links” There was no correlation in the placement of the IC link from the main page There was no correlation in the placement of the IC link from the main page

Common pages Some pages such as Policies, Floor maps, Support will be common between the IC pages and the Library website Some pages such as Policies, Floor maps, Support will be common between the IC pages and the Library website Instead of creating all new pages with the exact same information, we should create links to those pages Instead of creating all new pages with the exact same information, we should create links to those pages

Homepage? Is the Information Commons page the default homepage on the workstations at other libraries? Is the Information Commons page the default homepage on the workstations at other libraries? Should we consider making it the homepage on the workstations in our Information Commons? Should we consider making it the homepage on the workstations in our Information Commons?

More Info You can go to my website to see the data collected for each university. What is the IC at other universities? What is the IC at other universities?What is the IC at other universities?What is the IC at other universities? Who are we designing the IC site for? Who are we designing the IC site for?Who are we designing the IC site for?Who are we designing the IC site for? The URL is