A centre of expertise in digital information management
A QA Framework To Support Your Library Web Site ReviewBrian KellyUKOLNUniversity of BathBathEmail: [email protected]: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/>
UKOLN is supported by:
This presentation and associated files are available at: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/presentations/lse-07-2003/>
This presentation and associated files are available at: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/presentations/lse-07-2003/>
A centre of expertise in digital information management
Contents
• Background• A QA Approach• The QA Focus Project• Application To LSE Library• Advice• Questions
A centre of expertise in digital information management
About Me
Brian Kelly:• Funded by JISC to provide the Web Focus
advisory service to the UK HE and FE community• Based in UKOLN, a centre of expertise in digital
information management• Located at the University of Bath• Project manager of the JISC-funded QA Focus
advisory service
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Background
There is a clear need for checking processes for Web services in order to:
• Ensure that resources comply with appropriate standards in order to maximise their interoperability and avoid platform- and application-dependencies
• Ensure that resources work correctly today in a range of environments (e.g. Opera, Mac, … users)
• Ensure that resources can be repurposed: New devices such as PDAs Accessibility aids By software Migrate to new formats (XHTML 2.0)
• Ensure that the content is accurate, relevant, timely, comprehensible, …
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Approaches
A variety of approaches can be taken:• Centralised approach, with all publications being
vetted by central body• Periodic reviews• Peer reviews• Independent reviews• Automated testing• Manual checking
which may:• Check compliance against documented criteria• Be open-ended
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A centre of expertise in digital information management
A QA Approach
An approach based on Quality Assurance (QA):• Requires documented criteria• Addresses work flow issues (why did the system
fail and how can we fix it)• Based on systematic checking, audit trails, etc.
QA:• May be considered bureaucratic and time-
consuming• Can be implemented in a lightweight fashion and
provide clear benefits to organisations
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QA Focus
QA Focus:• Funded by JISC to support 5/99 programme • Seeks to ensure project deliverables are
interoperable and comply with appropriate standards & best practices
• Provides advice on appropriate QA procedures• Provided by UKOLN and AHDS
Our approach:• Surveys of communities• Provide advice and commission case studies • Recommend QA Policies• Promote use of compliance tools• Seek to embed QA practices within institutions
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Application To LSE Library
The QA Focus methodology has been applied to selected resources on the LSE library Web site:
• Compliance with standards• Formats• Repurposing• Key navigational aspects
In addition some suggestions for enhancement are provided
Note the focus is on the technical aspectsNote the focus is on the technical aspects
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A centre of expertise in digital information management
Surveys (1)A number of surveys of a selection of resources was carried out using a variety of automated tools
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A centre of expertise in digital information management
Surveys (2)
Surveys (continued)
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A centre of expertise in digital information management
Surveys (3)
Surveys (continued)
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A centre of expertise in digital information management
QA Framework
Consider deploying QA Focus's methodology:• Make systematic use of a self-assessment
toolkit to validate QA (as discussed)• Provide policies which document standards and
best practices you will deploy, the architecture used for implementation and the approach to checking compliance
• Implement in areas such as metadata, software development, digitisation, …
• Mandate QA when commissioning new work
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See "Deployment Of Quality Assurance Procedures For Digital Library Programmes" paper which outlines CDLR's comments on this methodology for Victorian Times
See "Deployment Of Quality Assurance Procedures For Digital Library Programmes" paper which outlines CDLR's comments on this methodology for Victorian Times
A centre of expertise in digital information management
QA Policies
You may find it easier to improve your Web site if you have documented QA policies and procedures
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See <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/documents/papers/eunis-2003/>
Area: Web standardsPolicy: Web resources will be based on HTML 4.0 and CSS
2.0. Resource will comply with these standards. We will seek to migrate to XHTML 1.0.
Architecture: Dreamweaver is the recommended tool. HTML generated by scripts will output to XHTML 1.0.
Exceptions: Proprietary format converted to HTML (e.g. MS PowerPoint) will not necessarily be compliant.
Compliance Testing: Authors are expected to check compliance when updating resources. Monthly batch compliance reports will be carried out and an audit trail kept.
Area: Web standardsPolicy: Web resources will be based on HTML 4.0 and CSS
2.0. Resource will comply with these standards. We will seek to migrate to XHTML 1.0.
Architecture: Dreamweaver is the recommended tool. HTML generated by scripts will output to XHTML 1.0.
Exceptions: Proprietary format converted to HTML (e.g. MS PowerPoint) will not necessarily be compliant.
Compliance Testing: Authors are expected to check compliance when updating resources. Monthly batch compliance reports will be carried out and an audit trail kept.
A centre of expertise in digital information management
Ad
vice Compliance Checking Tools
Ask your Web manager if he can implement this lightweight solution
You will need tools to ensure that you comply with your policies
As an example of approach which provides easier access to testing tools, see the ,tools approach deployed on UKOLN Web site.
This approach:• Applies to all resources on
Web site• Covers HTML and CSS
validation and various other tests
• Some recursive apps (,rvalidate)
• Easily implemented with single line redirect
As an example of approach which provides easier access to testing tools, see the ,tools approach deployed on UKOLN Web site.
This approach:• Applies to all resources on
Web site• Covers HTML and CSS
validation and various other tests
• Some recursive apps (,rvalidate)
• Easily implemented with single line redirect
A centre of expertise in digital information management
Exploit Advice
QA Focus has a range of advisory documents, case studies, papers, etc.
Feel free to:• Use the advice
provided• Contribute to the
case studies
QA Focus has a range of advisory documents, case studies, papers, etc.
Feel free to:• Use the advice
provided• Contribute to the
case studies
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vice
A centre of expertise in digital information management
Change Control Strategies
Strategies for deploying new best practices:• Training, organisational commitment, …• New templates, updating scripts, etc.• Use of automated tools
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The online version of Tidy can convert resources to valid XHTML
The online version of Tidy can convert resources to valid XHTML
A centre of expertise in digital information management
Questions
Any questions?