Assessment for Libguides by St. Clair - Module 2: Interface Navigation

Submitted by kdaigneau@stcl… on
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: In the libguides, there is only one user input field and it is the search function. Libguides specifically do not contain any forms for users to fill out. However, they do sometimes have other features that can be integrated into libguides from Lipapps such as Libchat and Libwizard. These features also have clear instruction for users to complete the form.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: User input fields feature clear labels alongside the provided instructions.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Descriptions for fields and boxes are present and easy to understand
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Labels are placed above the input fields and clearly associated with each corresponding field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no forms that exist through the libguides.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no other additional visual indicators for required form fields.
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable.
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: There is only one input field identified in the libguides portion of Lipapps and that is search. It does not have any error prevention function. Even if a user leaves the field empty but hits the search button, a list will still populate.
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There only form that is present to login is Libapps at the bottom. This is to login to all of the Libapp features that the library subscribes too, but it is not for users, only registered library staff. If a staff enters the incorrect credentials in this form, the alert message appears at the top of the form.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There only form that is present to login is Libapps at the bottom. This is to login to all of the Libapp features that the library subscribes too, but it is not for users, only registered library staff. If a staff enters the incorrect credentials in this form, the alert message appears at the top of the form.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Users are alerted to make corrections in the required fields before submission.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Library staff who forget their password can reset it via email, followed by a confirmation notification. However, regular users do not have access to Lipapps products' backend and therefore do not need to create accounts for Libguides. Admin staff must add library staff responsible for creating, building, and maintaining Libguides, who will then receive setup instructions via email.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order.
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms?
Answer: Never
Score: 0
Notes: A squiggly red line indicator appears if a word is misspelled. There are no spelling suggestions or synonyms that appear when a word is misspelled.
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Libguides that do have icons are usually included with the database links to indicate whether it is Canadian, open access, abstract only, full-text, etc. Some institutions due not include icons. But for those do include the icons, they mostly appear consistent.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most contain alt text for icons but there are some instances that don’t have it.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”.
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, the search button is labelled.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Icons with adjacent links are consistent. However, not all icons have an adjacent link.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes. The purpose of the link can be determined by the text.
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The eResource maintains a consistent layout and navigation across all pages, ensuring that when navigational mechanisms appear, they do so consistently.

Library staff can determine the navigational layout for their libguide as either side-navigation or tab-navigation. Each institution libguides maintains a consistent layout with one of these choices. St. Clair College, for example, uses the side-navigation layout for our libguides.


Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The presence and functionality of the search field in the guides depend on individual institution settings, with some libraries opting to include it for their guides but not for their integrated library system (ILS), such as in the case of St. Clair College guides where the search field is displayed at the top of each guide page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The footer and banner customization options in LibGuides allow library staff to maintain consistency across guides by creating templates that ensure these elements appear in the same place across all their guides.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All components are consistently labeled.
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Found no pop-ups but most of the institutions have a chat box somewhere on the page for users to click to get research help. There are instances where pages will redirect to another guide or webpage that will open up in a new tab. However, there is a symbol for sighed users with alt text that a link will open in a new window/tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most libguides reviewed do not have pop-ups.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Most libguides reviewed do not have pop-ups. However, for the few that do, users can suppress the pop-up chat box and it will not appear on any of the other pages.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The links that do open in a new window/tab have symbols and alt text that indicates this action. Links that open in a new browser window have all of the usual browser controls.
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All page content is appropriately structured and tagged.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Headings are clear, concise, and accurately reflect the proceeding content or section.
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Drop-down menus do contain a reasonable number of items overall. The libguides reviewed from various institutions, there are not many drop-down menus.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The drop-down menus have a moderate number of items, with none of the reviewed LibGuides exceeding 10, and there are also limited instances of drop-down menus throughout the platform.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All menu items are accessible with a screen reader and via keyboard navigation.
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no result pages.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: There are no result pages.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The database does avoid automatic redirection by moving to another page.
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Forms avoid automatically submitting when receiving focus.
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes. The database avoids launching into new windows or tabs when components receive focus.
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The database consistently prevents changes in focus when a component receives focus.
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Keyboard navigation allows users to tab through elements on a page without the focus moving away from the currently selected control.
eResource: Libguides
eResource Type: Website
Vendor: Other
Institution: St. Clair
Score: A

Labels and Instructions for Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields accompanied by clear instructions on what the user needs to do to successfully complete the form? Always In the libguides, there is only one user input field and it is the search function. Libguides specifically do not contain any forms for users to fill out. However, they do sometimes have other features that can be integrated into libguides from Lipapps such as Libchat and Libwizard. These features also have clear instruction for users to complete the form.
Do user input fields contain labels in addition to overall instructions mentioned above? Always User input fields feature clear labels alongside the provided instructions.
Are descriptions for fields and boxes easy to understand? Always Descriptions for fields and boxes are present and easy to understand
Are labels placed above the user input fields and clearly associated with each field? Always Labels are placed above the input fields and clearly associated with each corresponding field.
Are text cues for coloured form control labels available? Not Applicable There are no forms that exist through the libguides.
Are other visual indicators provided consistently, such as an asterisk for required form fields? Not Applicable There are no other additional visual indicators for required form fields.

Error Prevention

Question Answer Notes Images
Are user input fields either reversible, checked, or confirmed? One of the three is acceptable. Never There is only one input field identified in the libguides portion of Lipapps and that is search. It does not have any error prevention function. Even if a user leaves the field empty but hits the search button, a list will still populate.

Error Reports

Question Answer Notes Images
Are alert messages clearly visible to the user, either at the top of the form field, inline, or through a dialog box? Always There only form that is present to login is Libapps at the bottom. This is to login to all of the Libapp features that the library subscribes too, but it is not for users, only registered library staff. If a staff enters the incorrect credentials in this form, the alert message appears at the top of the form.
Do alert messages clearly indicate the field in which the error has occurred and a description of the error and the fix? Always There only form that is present to login is Libapps at the bottom. This is to login to all of the Libapp features that the library subscribes too, but it is not for users, only registered library staff. If a staff enters the incorrect credentials in this form, the alert message appears at the top of the form.
Is the user able to easily access the user input field to correct the error? Always Users are alerted to make corrections in the required fields before submission.
Is the user able to resubmit the form and re-validate their submission? Always Library staff who forget their password can reset it via email, followed by a confirmation notification. However, regular users do not have access to Lipapps products' backend and therefore do not need to create accounts for Libguides. Admin staff must add library staff responsible for creating, building, and maintaining Libguides, who will then receive setup instructions via email.
Do error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order? Always Error reports follow a logical reading and navigation order.

Search function spell-check

Question Answer Notes Images
When a user spells a word incorrectly, does the search function offer spelling suggestions or synonyms? Never A squiggly red line indicator appears if a word is misspelled. There are no spelling suggestions or synonyms that appear when a word is misspelled.

Functionality of Interactive Elements

Question Answer Notes Images
Are icons such as to save, download, or print consistent across the site? Sometimes Libguides that do have icons are usually included with the database links to indicate whether it is Canadian, open access, abstract only, full-text, etc. Some institutions due not include icons. But for those do include the icons, they mostly appear consistent.
Is alternative text clear and consistent for each icon type? Sometimes Most contain alt text for icons but there are some instances that don’t have it.
Are actions consistently labelled across the site? For example, the “search” button is always labeled “search”. Always Yes, the search button is labelled.
Are icons that have adjacent links consistent? Always Icons with adjacent links are consistent. However, not all icons have an adjacent link.
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text alone? Always Yes. The purpose of the link can be determined by the text.

Consistent Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the eresource have a consistent layout and navigation across all pages? Always The eResource maintains a consistent layout and navigation across all pages, ensuring that when navigational mechanisms appear, they do so consistently. Library staff can determine the navigational layout for their libguide as either side-navigation or tab-navigation. Each institution libguides maintains a consistent layout with one of these choices. St. Clair College, for example, uses the side-navigation layout for our libguides.
Are search fields located in the same places throughout the website? Always The presence and functionality of the search field in the guides depend on individual institution settings, with some libraries opting to include it for their guides but not for their integrated library system (ILS), such as in the case of St. Clair College guides where the search field is displayed at the top of each guide page.
Do other features occur in the same place throughout the website? Always The footer and banner customization options in LibGuides allow library staff to maintain consistency across guides by creating templates that ensure these elements appear in the same place across all their guides.
Are links, buttons, images, and other components that are used repeatedly throughout a website labeled consistently? Always All components are consistently labeled.

Pop-up windows/Interruptions

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the electronic resource avoid the use of pop-up windows which open automatically in a new tab if a user clicks on a button? Always Found no pop-ups but most of the institutions have a chat box somewhere on the page for users to click to get research help. There are instances where pages will redirect to another guide or webpage that will open up in a new tab. However, there is a symbol for sighed users with alt text that a link will open in a new window/tab.
Does the database avoid launching pop-up windows automatically when the database is loaded? Sometimes Most libguides reviewed do not have pop-ups.
Where pop-ups occur, are users able to postpone or suppress any pop-ups? Always Most libguides reviewed do not have pop-ups. However, for the few that do, users can suppress the pop-up chat box and it will not appear on any of the other pages.
Does the database avoid launching pages in a new browser window with the usual browser controls missing? Always The links that do open in a new window/tab have symbols and alt text that indicates this action. Links that open in a new browser window have all of the usual browser controls.

Headers

Question Answer Notes Images
Is page content subdivided hierarchically into appropriate headings and tagged appropriately? Always All page content is appropriately structured and tagged.
Are headings concise and clear, and accurately reflect the content under that heading? Always Headings are clear, concise, and accurately reflect the proceeding content or section.

Menus

Question Answer Notes Images
Do database page menus have a reasonable number of navigation items and drop-down options? Always Drop-down menus do contain a reasonable number of items overall. The libguides reviewed from various institutions, there are not many drop-down menus.
Does the main navigation and drop-downs contain a reasonable number of menu items? Always The drop-down menus have a moderate number of items, with none of the reviewed LibGuides exceeding 10, and there are also limited instances of drop-down menus throughout the platform.
Can all menus and submenus be accessed with screen readers and via keyboard navigation? Always All menu items are accessible with a screen reader and via keyboard navigation.

Change of context

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the “results” page or item record view avoid opening in a new tab without a warning? Not Applicable There are no result pages.
Is there an "update now" button that requests a refresh of content rather than automatically updating the content? Not Applicable There are no result pages.
Does the database avoid automatic redirection? Always The database does avoid automatic redirection by moving to another page.

Change of Context: Focus

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the form refrain from submitting automatically when a component receives focus? Always Forms avoid automatically submitting when receiving focus.
Does the database avoid launching new windows when a component receives focus? Always Yes. The database avoids launching into new windows or tabs when components receive focus.
Does the database avoid change of focus when a component receives focus? Always The database consistently prevents changes in focus when a component receives focus.
Are you able to tab through a page using keyboard navigation without the keyboard focus moving away from the control? Always Keyboard navigation allows users to tab through elements on a page without the focus moving away from the currently selected control.
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