Participants sought for ALA website accessibility/usability study to be conducted by 2010 Emerging Leaders group

Contact: Louise Gruenberg


ALA ITTS


312-280-1395


lgruenberg@ala.org

News


For Immediate Release


March 10, 2010

Librarians are invited to participate in a usability study designed to determine the accessibility of the American Library Association (ALA) website for individuals using assistive devices. The ideal participant would be a member of ALA who requires an assistive device to access the Internet. The results of the study will contribute to a report that will used to develop a strategic plan for implementing improvements in the accessibility of ALA’s website and will be presented in a poster session at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in June.

Emerging Leaders Project Team K has taken on the task of developing this study to benefit all users of the ALA website. If you are interested in participating in this usability study, or can assist with the recruitment of suitable participants, please email
accessibilitytesting@ala.org. Participants will take the test at their own locations using their own computers and assistive devices. The study will run during March, April and May of 2010. The test will be provided in Word format and will take approximately one hour to complete.

ALA Emerging Leaders is a leadership development program which enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Team K is composed of emerging leaders Michelle Batchelor, Lisa Chow, Cynthia Mattias and Jennifer Rutner, member mentor Will Reed and staff mentor Louise Gruenberg, ALA’s Sr. Usability Officer.

###