Web Content and Redesign Task Force – An Update

In August 2002, Merle Slyhoff, then Chair of the ALL-SIS, created a Web Content and Redesign Task Force. Chaired by Dan Campbell, United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (previously with Rutgers University, Newark), the Committee’s charge was to

• Redesign the ALL-SIS web page to make it more dynamic;
• Work with relevant committees, especially the Education Task Force to determine new information that should be on the web page.

Although the ALL-SIS web page had proven to be a useful resource to the membership, it was felt that there were changes – both aesthetic and content – that would make it an even more powerful tool. At the same time the Chair had created an Education Task Force to examine alternative forms of education for the SIS. Since many of these alternative formats would no doubt be electronic, the two groups were charged with working together.

In its report to the Board, the Web Content Task Force addressed design and content. Based on the results of an e-mail survey to the SIS membership, the Task Force made the following observations:

• The Task Force commended David Burch, ALL-SIS webmaster, for his work on the web page (the ALL-SIS Board seconds that commendation!)
• Design:
  • Affiliation with AALL needs to be added to the site
  • An index is needed to assist in locating content
  • The site works well with both IE and Netscape and loads quickly
  • Uniformity is needed for all pages on the site, including identifying the SIS on each page
  • Site navigation needs improvement
• Content:
  • A general content redevelopment initiative needs to be pursued in order to attract users and to help meet member needs
  • Comments on content should be solicited from the SIS’s committees
  • The quality of the information should be evaluated
  • The current information is helpful and pertinent to the members

The Chair of the Task Force recommended that an in-depth review of the content be conducted with input from the SIS’s committees. The report concludes “While the web site in its current iteration is helpful and is updated on a regular basis, evaluation based on the aforementioned criteria indicates that the ALL-SIS should consider modifying the design and content of the ALL-SIS web site and work more closely with the other ALL-SIS committees to solicit input regarding content.”

The Task Force is continuing its work this year and will consult with the Education Task Force. Suggestions and comments for a redesigned web site – both design and content – are welcome. Comments should be sent to the Web Content and Design Task Force chair Gregory Laughlin, University of Memphis, glaughln@memphis.edu.