Amazon and Usability

I read Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox every week. Interface usability is an important concept for librarians, and generally we tend to clutter our interfaces with too many options, put in the wrong place.

I like to think of general usability principles like ADA compliance rules--making things ADA compliant makes them more accessible to non-disabled people as well. Making an online resource usable for the most inexperienced user aids everyone. So, the weekly reminders from Nielsen to keep things clean and user-focused are refreshing.

Another bonus for reading Nielsen is that the concepts translate into the tangible world as well (check out The Design of Everyday Things for a great read on real-world usability. I'll never look at a door the same way again).

This week's Alertbox article describes how Amazon.com is no longer the gold standard for ecommerce sites, and I absolutely have to agree. There is SO MUCH happening at Amazon that it can be tough to just find a book and buy it. My number one annoyance is that once you have logged in as an Amazon user, there is no clear way to log out. I hate that!

I had a Barnes and Noble gift certificate and was amazed at how easy it was to find and order what I wanted compared to a recent visit to Amazon. An order from Alibris, the online used book retailer, was even more elegant and enjoyable.

That said, Nielsen says that there's still a lot going right for Amazon, and I agree: Amazon is still my first choice for buying books (and toys, from their affiliation with Toys 'R' Us) online. Their selection and service just can't be beat.

However, Amazon represents a lesson that librarians should take to heart--in trying to be all things to all people, Amazon is pushing the envelope and by doing so pushing some (very profitable) users away. Why not pare our services--online and analog--down to the core of what we do, instead of trying to be all things to all people? Why not make ourselves really essential in a few areas where no one else--IT, education, whoever--can compete with us?

I'd appreciate comments on this; I think there's a real trend towards continual expansion of library services, and I seem to be pointing the opposite direction. We collect, organize, and disseminate information--should we really be doing anything else?

WDT

Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?

Bloglines user whitneydt (wdavison-turley@kumc.edu) has sent this item to you, with the following personal message:

Oh, my -- the blood boils just reading the headline and synopsis. Forwarded from ResourceShelf via Bloglines.

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ResourceShelf's DocuTicker Docuticker is a daily update of new reports from government agencies, ngo's, think tanks, and other groups. DocuTicker is compiled by the librarians who bring you ResourceShelf.com.

Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty? By Shirl Mothers--Employment Descrimination Source: Cornell University, Department of Sociology (Shelley J. Correll, Stephan Bernard) Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty? (PDF; 149 KB) "Relative to other kinds of applicants, mothers were rated as less competent, less committed, less suitable for hire, promotion, and management training, and deserving of lower salaries. Mothers were also held to higher performance and punctuality standards. Men were not penalized for being a parent, and in fact, appeared to benefit from having children on some measures. We discuss the implications of these findings for the theory presented and for enduring patterns of gender inequality in paid work."

Refresh, Recharge

Let me tell you, I could get used to this schedule. As I'm only in on Monday and Tuesdays for a few weeks, today is Friday for me! Hooray!

Actually, I'm just not cut out to be a homemaker or a stay-at-home parent, as much as I admire and respect those who choose that path. My daughter is beautiful, and amazing, and I could spend every second of my day gazing at her, but that's not good for her or for me.

I do daydream of being able to bake for a living--I love making beautiful and tasty goodies, and Trix loves to "help"--but I don't know that I would be really happy with that. Despite years of work, I ultimately couldn't see myself making my life as a musician because I couldn't commit my existence to something so ephemeral, as much enjoyment as it would have brought me (and in theory, the audiences). Baking has that same element of frivolity.

What being away and taking a break provides me with is the space to find some perspective on what I choose to do, on being a librarian. Every day that I come in here, something I do ties into my fundamental belief that knowledge is power. Even though some days the link seems tenuous at best, it's always there. What could be better than that?

Focused Like A Lazer

OK, well, maybe not. It's the Friday before my month of semi-freedom and I am just bouncing off the walls! Gotta get a little work done before I skitter out for a month in the sun.

Best wishes to all.

WDT