Redhaired Librarian

Comments on Blogger and Usability

Joy comments on Jakob Nielsen’s new alertbox on usability. I think Mr. Neilsen has some very, very good points. I was amused by Joy’s mention of Blogger’s lack of categories. This lack of categories is a point in my presentation on library web logs. Librarians love categories, so why are so many of the public library blogs on Blogger, which doesn’t have categories? Lack of categories is why I switched from Blogger to the defunct Greymatter, and then to Movable Type, and then to Word Press (I haven’t had time to switch this blog.) I switched from Blogger four years ago, but still use it for some work projects because it was chosen by others. It seems they’ve been resting on their laurels since then.

As for Mr. Neilsen’s usability points, tested against this blog:

1. I haven’t put up a bio yet. This site will eventually link to my official resume site and vice-versa. But I know I need to get that bio up soon, probably before my presentation.

2. I don’t have a photo up yet because I don’t like any of the photos of me so far. I don’t look like the me in my head. But I’ll get over that eventually.

3. My post titles could be better.

4. Wow, Firefox finally supports link titles! But I do like inline links, as long as I can see the address itself in the lower left hand of my browser. If I can’t see the URL, I don’t go there.

5. I don’t have any classics yet, unless my mild take on Cronin-gate counts. I suppose I should have linked that just then.

6. I