Initial Reaction

The card sorting exercise has been active for 1 day. So far we've had 22 participants, about half of which are staff.

The comments I've received so far from patrons are that they were confused by the format. They expected a traditional survey and instead got an "exercise". To help alleviate this confusion I pointed the link to the Library's blog entry about the exercise. It describes a bit more clearly what the Survey actually is.

I really hope that helps clarify things for our patrons.

Patron Card Sort

We launched the Website Improvement Survey (which is a card sorting exercise for patrons) today! It runs through October 31. I'm both excited and apprehensive to see how patrons react to it.

Everyone, please take it!

PPLD's Website Improvement Survey

CCK and me!

I uploaded and enabled the CCK module and messed around with it per Drupal 6's instructions. I created two new content types on my test site, vfranklyn.com, Book Reviews and Movie Reviews.

I also enabled FiveStar module so authenticated users can vote on the books and movies I highlighted.

This was a good exercise for me to wrap my head around CCK.

Taxonomy

Hell. Looking at Taxonomies in Drupal made me realize I'll need to create a taxonomy structure for ppld.org. I think with an already existing Site Map and a card sorting exercise in progress, that this should be okay. It's a similar concept, isn't it?

Staff Card Sort

Well, we've released the card sorting exercise to staff. We'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to their feedback... as long as it's all positive, harhar.

LiveStats vs. Google Analytics

When comparing Visits for our current web statistics software, LiveStats, and our possible new web statistics solution, Google Analytics, I noticed quite a discrepancy:

• Google Analytics reported 9,692 visits on September 4, 2008


• LiveStats reported 13,376 visits on September 4, 2008

I learned this is the case because Google Analytics user sessions expire in 30 minutes and LiveStats expire in 15 minutes. I suspect I'll run into a lot of differences like this.

I've started documenting my findings on our staff Intranet for posterity's sake.

Card Sorting Redux

We've decided on OptimalSort for our card sorting project. Staff testing begins the week of September 9. Patron testing begins on October 1. Good times.

I also submitted a proposal to speak at 2009 Computers in Libraries conference. If accepted, my topic will be a portrait of this redesign. Why? Because I wasn't stressed out enough.