S W Huang

We have moved!

2006-08-28T10:28:00.000+01:00

This blog will be maintained on the WordPress platform in the future @ nefobi.wordpress.com See you there!

Web Usability Book List

2006-08-22T18:58:00.000+01:00

NIELSEN, DR. JAKOB, 2006. Books About Usability. FreePint Newsletter, 211. Books are useful for learning about usability, because it is:

Related to humans thus changes slowly
Only possible to reveal deeper insights through in-depth text

Recommended books:

“Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction” by Ben Shneiderman and Catherine Plaisant (Addison Wesley, 2004) ~ 672 pages text book that summarises knowledge on how people use computers ~
“Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works” by Janice Redish (Morgan Kaufmann, 2006)
“Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication Oriented Techniques” by Kevin Mullet and Darrell Sano (Prentice Hall, 1994) ~ explains the principles required to understand visual design within an interactive context ~
“Maximum Accessibility: Making Your Web Site More Usable for Everyone” by John m. Slatin and Sharron Rush (Addison-Wesley, 2002) ~ written from the angle of customers who actually have disabilities, with real browsing-using-screen-reader case studies ~

The original newsletter can be accessed through the title link.

Is Networking on your schedule?

2006-08-17T20:52:00.000+01:00

It is on mine. I share with you some practical strategies I found:

Form strategic topics to discuss with everyone you meet at an event
Introduce yourself i.e. name (e.g. hello, I am so-and-so, you are?)
Ask why they attend i.e. their purpose of coming to the event
What do they think of the event?
Discuss anything else that crops up after these first three questions
If they are interested, ask them what is their main project at work currently
Ask if they have any personal project going on and what is it
Give them your details and request them to update you with their projects (even if you aren’t particularly interested)
Thank them and tell them it is nice to meet and talk to them and hope to see them again
Always answer your own questions after the other party has told their story as it is a normal practice to share in conversation
Set targets such as ‘I will give my email address to one participant at the event’.

Bad English?!

2006-08-05T14:44:00.000+01:00

If a library visitor was racist and accused you of bad English, try this: "Since you think my English is bad, I am sorry you will have to ask my colleague to help you because I do not want to mislead you". Or if you are flying solo: "I am sorry my English is bad for you, I am afraid I cannot help you because I do not wish to mislead you by any chance".

Bored interviewer?

2006-07-28T14:31:00.000+01:00

Finish what you are saying Before the next question, ask the fidgeting one "What do you think about my statement, sir (madam)?" Try it and let me know the result! Read the book recommended to me by my kind interviewer, Sweaty Palms, if you have a chance.

What am I reading?

2006-07-23T20:50:00.000+01:00

SHEPHERD, ELIZABETH, and YEO, GEOFFREY, 2003. Managing Records: A Handbook of Principles and Practice. London: Facet Publishing. See the content page on the web link from the title above.

Website Development

2006-07-17T13:02:00.000+01:00

Like any good project, start with the objectives for having a website. Tangible goals are ideal, e.g. to reduce 20% of telephone enquiries. Before embarking on the physical act of developing a website, find out who your target audiences are. I share some guidelines for preparing easy-to-use web content (based on the Usability.gov site by the Web Communications Division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs):

Select only what the audiences need
Organise the content logically for the audiences - Break the text into manageable pieces / chunking using short paragraphs, lists, tables, pictures, examples - Use many headings to aid skimming and scanning - Write useful headings e.g. questions, sentences, phrases, action phrases, imperatives - Use the headings as introductory hyperlinks and a group of headings into an introductory list of hyperlinks - Write content visually
For website with users who read on the Web and print to read - Layer the information i.e. summarise the information in an easily-accessible Web form and put link to the printable versionOffer a separate printable document i.e. offer a document in HTML and PDF formats

Further notes on Writing Content Visually:

- Use blank space well e.g. fragments, lists, tables, and examples to strike the balance - Cut out words - Keep paragraphs and sentences short - Use fragments e.g. don’t repeat words from the FAQ question in the answer - Use the users’ words and avoid jargon - Use bulleted lists - Use numbered lists for steps in a procedure - Use tables - Give examples - Meet users’ expectations for the way information is displayed e.g. write address on separate lines like an address - Use icons or small pictures to enhance the wordsInclude pictures and other graphics when appropriate

A Very Short Course in Time Management for Librarians ~ Judith A. Siess

2006-07-16T22:32:00.000+01:00

An expert in solo librarianship and interpersonal networking, Judith Siess, wrote this thought stimulating article for IMPACT! Fall 2005 (the quarterly publication of the Special Libraries Association Leadership & Management Division). She is the President of the One Person Library or OPL (Information Bridges International, Inc.) in the United States. I share my notes below:

How do a solo librarian “do it all”? - Develop strategic plan - Prioritise the tasks - Work on managing time
Let Go – Don’t be a perfectionist!
1) Learn to say no - Offer alternative - Don’t weaken no with apology
2) Question things - What have I got to lose?
Pareto principle – 80% of work comes from 20% of tasks
Efficient & Effective – doing the right things right
Take control of interruptions - Signs answer “where is?” questions - Handouts answer “how do I?” questions - Say “I will be with you in a minute as soon as I finish this task” & make appointment to continue conversation if it takes longer than a minute
Knowing when to work - 1st two hours of the day is when one is most productive so use them effectively e.g. clear thinking & do not check emails, avoid meetings
Save time before money - Outsource what you can, especially those things you don’t do well
Logic-based disposal helps filing - Ask: 1) Does it require action on my part? Yes, action it 2) Does it exist elsewhere? Yes, discard it 3) Is it outdated? Yes, discard it 4) Will I really use it again? Yes, file it 5) Are there tax/legal implications? Yes, file it 6) Can I live with the worst thing that could happen if I don’t have this info? Yes, discard it 7) Does anyone else need this info? Yes, forward it to them - Never file envelopes unless postmark is significant - Write a keyword on item/where to file it when you read it - File items according to How you’ll use it Not where they come fromJudy’s first law of filing: file it back in the 1st place you looked when you spent a lot of time locating it & put pointer to item if for some reason you can’t file it there

Translating skill

2006-07-07T21:03:00.000+01:00

I am fluent in written and spoken Chinese. An poem translated by me from Chinese to English can be found by clicking the title on top. An English poem by Michelle Tea translated by me to Chinese can be found online. Chinese = Mandarin Cantonese is a spoken Chinese dialect that has a handful of its own characters. I am fluent in spoken Cantonese.

Abstracting skill

2006-07-07T11:58:00.000+01:00

For an example of my abstracting work, have a look at the article from the link below and read my abstract that follows: http://www.guardian.co.uk/nuclear/article/0,,1812795,00.html Abstract: According to safety assessments by the Nuclear Safety Directorate (NSD) in June 2005, major cracks have been known at four Britain nuclear sites, Hinkley Point B in Somerset, Hartlepool in Cleveland, Hunterston B in Ayrshire, and Heysham 1 in Lancashire. The documents hinted core damage at the Dungeness in Kent and Torness in East Lothian sites. NSD criticises British Energy, the operator for 13 advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors (AGR), for not knowing the extent of damage, unable to monitor the deterioration or understand entirely the reason for the cracks. The remedy favoured by the NSD is more probing inspections of the AGR plants’ reactor cores more often, which requires the reactors to be shut down for weeks and would cause chaos to Britain’s electricity supplies. Furthermore, the closure of Hinkley Point would mean at least three other similar age stations would have to be closed due to the cracks. Back in 2004, British Energy already warned that the normal 30-year life span of AGR plants might be reduced by the cracks in the graphite brick cores. In particular, NSD’s inspection of Hinkley in April 2006 revealed rising accident risk from its continued operation and possible serious faults leading to long term or permanent closure, though ruling out immediate radiation danger to the public. But independent nuclear engineer John Large advised the government to shut down the reactors immediately until they are cleared of any safety uncertainties. His argument was backed by the conclusion of an inspector in June 2005 that the worst case scenario would have to be assumed unless British Energy makes progress in addressing the cracks. Mr. Large has reviewed the papers obtained through the Freedom of Information legislation by a local nuclear watchdog group of Greenpeace, Stop Hinkley, which has revealed more details than publicly known before. British Energy answered the reports with claims that they have provided new evidence to the NSD and they have been working on monitoring the cores without plant closure. Furthermore, the assessments are part of the on-going regulatory process and NSD works closely with British Energy on the issue. The surface of the documents coincides with the call for a new generation of nuclear power by the Prime Minister and Chancellor just two weeks before the government’s energy review. Greenpeace executive director Stephen Tindale accused the government and British Energy of incompetent and John Large is cynical about the NSD’s reluctance to call for closure of Hinkley Point at this politically critical time.

Website maintenance

2006-07-05T10:58:00.000+01:00

For examples of my work in website maintenance, please look under myWork tag in my del.icio.us

Information Professional

2006-07-04T17:58:00.000+01:00

I am the librarian / information officer of a private sailing membership library. I provide technical and geographical information to small craft sailors. My skills are:

Information resource management
Website maintenance
Client communication
Information service promotion
Resource digitisation

My CV:

EMPLOYMENT Librarian / Information Officer, Cruising Association (CA), London 8 Nov 2004 to Date Volunteer Library Assistant, Westminster Reference Library, London 17 June 2006 to Date MA Information Studies, University of Brighton, East Sussex Oct 2003 – Oct 2004 Trainee Account Manager, MSF, Worthing, West Sussex Jan 2003 – Oct 2003 Cataloguer, Environment Agency, Worthing, West Sussex Oct 2002 – Oct 2002 Customer Service Operator, Parcelforce, Shoreham, West Sussex Dec 1998 – Sep 2002 Information Analyst, Esmerk Information, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Oct 1997 – Sep 1998 SKILLS Knowledge Organisation

Catalogue, classify, index, shelf and weed the CA library’s collection (including multimedia materials)
Created a taxonomy for the new CA library management system (http://www.lookup.eu.com/cruasshome.asp)
Completed the integration of an independent Environment Agency’s departmental collection to the main library stock through the cataloguing of the collection, following a Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) based standards on a Microsoft Access based system
Developed a Nautical Web Portal for the CA (www.cruising.org.uk/library/webportal.shtml)

Research Methods

Attended the CILIP’s Desk Research Skills workshop
Attended the talk “Searching the Internet” presented by Phil Bradley, organised by the Industrial and Commercial Libraries Group (ICLG) of CILIP
Attended the How our laws are made: and how to find them seminar organised by SCOOP of the CILIP Information Services Group (ISG)

Documentation skills

Updated the library & website leaflets with a library resources guide, chart collection instruction, members’ report guide, and CA website guide
Set up the CA’s online sailing report database (www.cruising.org.uk/members/cirindex.htm)* in zipped PDF format

Enquiry Service

Answer enquiries related to sailing in small crafts from CA members within 1 working day, using information from hardcopy resources, the Internet and expert members (involving Knowledge Management)
Answer face-to-face enquiries related to the business and official publications housed in the Westminster Reference Library

Web Design & Information Architecture

Process materials for publication on the CA website (e.g. scan & convert to PDF)
Design the layout & update the CA library & information web pages
Improved the user-friendliness of the CA website – redesigned the library & information pages (www.cruising.org.uk/library & www.cruising.org.uk/info); contributed to the revamp of the CA website (www.cruising.org.uk)

Acquisition & Review Co-ordination

Liaise with publishers to acquire review copy of publications recommended by the CA Information Executive Committee (IEC) Chairman & members
Work with IEC Chairman on the assignment & despatch of review items; posting of Cruising magazines to publishers in which the reviews for their publications appeared Library Management System (LMS)
Develop & manage the new web-based LMS (LookUp by Bailey Solutions) i.e. generate system requirements, data conversion, data & system settings fine-tuning Library Clients Communication
Provide CA members with induction to key library resources & detailed guidance for specific resources
Set up Library News in the CA bi-monthly magazine, website (www.cruising.org.uk/library/#News), and library & general notice board
Designed the library survey to be distributed in June 2006
Created an information literacy booklet for the CA (www.cruising.org.uk/info/infoliteracy.shtml)

Information Resource Management

In charge of over 15,000 volumes, 3,000 charts, journals, member reports, electronic charts, Internet access at the CA library
Researched & acquired mobile shelving & climate control equipment for the CA’s rare book storeroom

Continuing Professional Development

Pursuing CILIP Chartership & will submit portfolio in 2006
Contributed to mobile shelving discussion on Freepint.com, and PPDP writing discussion on the CILIP Career Development Group discussion list (LIS-CILIP-REG) Time Management
Manage own time to strike the balance in performing the roles of librarian, information officer, and library assistant at the CA
Performed under strict time limits when selecting, abstracting & indexing newspapers & journal articles at Esmerk Information; and updating database at Parcelforce Customer Service
Deal with telephone requests for the loan and information service of the CA library
Offer professional customer service to the visitors of the Westminster Reference Library
Provided telephone support for the supermarket in-store promoters of MSF
Resolved external and internal telephone enquiries at Parcelforce

Communications & Team Working

Attend meetings of the CA Information Executive Committee, Library Working Group (LWG), Information Working Group, and Web Working Group; take minutes of the LWG meetings
Working in a team of six with various level of expertise at the Westminster Reference Library
Contributed marketing ideas at the monthly meetings of Esmerk Information IT Support Liaison
Act as the point of contact for the CA’s outsourced IT support

EDUCATION MA Information Studies, University of Brighton, East Sussex Oct 2003 – Oct 2004 BA (Hons) Business Administration (2i), Middlesex University, London Sept 1994 – July 1997 AEB ‘A’ level – Business Studies (A), Economics (B), Statistics (A) April 1993 – July 1994 IT SKILLS (working knowledge)

Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage & SmartFTP

LANGUAGES

Fluent spoken & written Chinese
Moderate spoken & written Malay

INTERESTS

Records Management, Knowledge Management & Library Digitisation
What I am reading? (http://jswhuang.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-am-i-reading.html)
Good food