Posts filed under 'Intranet'
The new Libraries’ intranet is now up and operational. We encourage you to take a few minutes and familiarize yourself with it. Remember, this site is designed to replace the existing “Staff Internet” page you currently access from the Libraries’ web page.
Please remember that this is a work in progress. Thanks to our web testers for their help in suggesting tweaks to the site. If there are things you can’t find, or any pieces of the site you find confusing, let us know. You’ll also see links to both the existing Staff Internet page and the staff directory, in case you need to use either of those resources as you get used to the Intranet.
August 28th, 2008
Our group of testers are looking at the final design of the staff intranet, and will help us determine if there are any changes that need to be made before we launch the site next week. Thanks to our testers: Marilyn Willhoff, Diane Sliemers, Anne Fields, Beth Whittaker, Nick Felt, Bertha Ihnat, Jennifer Kuehn, Kathie Miller, Mark Boarman and Beth Masten.
The site is set to go live Wednesday, August 27. There will be brief training sessions for anyone who wants one on Wednesday, August 27, 2 p.m., Ackerman Library, Room 5826, and Thursday, August 28, 10 a.m., Science & Engineering Library, Room 070/090.
So get ready to click…
August 21st, 2008
OK…we’re fooling around here, but we’ve gotten comments that indicate there may be some confusion about some of the terminology we’re using in describing the functions of the intranet. It seemed that a glossary (LIPP Gloss…) might help.
First is the term intranet.
An intranet is a private network designed to share company information and computing resources among the company’s employees, and facilitate working in groups. Although some pages on an intranet may link to the Internet, an intranet is not accessed by the general public.
Here at the Libraries, the “organization information” has historically been made available through what we currently call the “staff web.” It is accessed from the Libraries’ home page, by clicking the staff web link, which takes you to a page with links to information for Libraries’ faculty and staff.
From a practical standpoint, and for our purposes, the terms “staff intranet” and “staff web” are synonymous for now. We are in the process of creating an intranet that will provide better navigation and resources for the Libraries’ staff in carrying out their everyday tasks.
Hopefully, this helps everyone better understand an intranet. Are there other terms we should define? Let us know.
July 3rd, 2008
We’re putting up two design possibilities for the staff intranet –we’ve labeled them “A” and “B” to help you when providing us with feedback. Because the new designs include customizing features that help you access web resources you use frequently, they have been set up to reflect the way Larry Allen, communications coordinator, would set up his personal version of the intranet home page.
A
B
Here’s a “viewer’s guide,” starting from the top:
Navigation buttons:
There are a number of “buttons” at the top of both designs that offer immediate access to a specific page: “staff directory,” “committees,” “forms.” There is also a link to the automated timekeeping system, and an “emergency” button that links to information to help you respond to and manage a crisis. Both versions also feature a site “search” box at the top.
Navigation bar:
Directly under the buttons is the main navigation bar. Navigation will be through a series of drop-down menus that give you further choices (not visible on these preliminary designs).
My Links and My Tools:
The “My Links” navigation bar on the left will come with preset selections, but you will be able to add to or replace those with links to sites you want to access frequently. The “My Tools” links will go to blogs and wikis many staff members contribute to or maintain, and will also be a place to access tools being planned for the future, such as project management software.
Library News:
The “Library News” box will feature library activities–staff meetings, lectures, special programs–that are targeted for faculty and staff. This section of the page will be updated most frequently; we’re hoping it becomes a place staff check at least once a day, to keep informed about the latest Libraries’ happenings.
Events and Spotlight:
“Events” will highlight activities around campus–including library events and exhibits, as well as major events sponsored by other OSU units. “Spotlight On…” will focus on the accomplishments of Libraries’ staff and faculty, special collections, new acquisitions and other news we need to highlight.
So there you have it. We’d appreciate your comments on the two designs–likes, dislikes, suggestions. Comments and concerns about the site navigation as it is presented would be especially helpful. We’ll leave the two mock-ups displayed through the end of May, then review the suggestions we get and work toward a final version of the new staff intranet home page.
May 15th, 2008
We’re continuing to look at organizing features of the staff intranet. The design of the intranet home page—which will replace the page called the “staff web site”—will greatly simplify navigation. The team has also been looking at additional features that provide faculty/staff with more information and more control over there use of the site:
•An “emergency” link will take users to information that would be needed in the event of a library or campus-wide emergency, as well as to prepare for a crisis.
•A “News” panel that will remind library faculty/staff of things they need to know in the next 48-72 hours.
•A “Spotlight” panel that would serve to highlight people, library events and special activities going on across campus and at the regionals.
•Sidebar navigation controlled by the users that will allow the set up of “quick links” to those portions of the intranet they use most frequently—information from HR, training, committees, etc. (think “favorites”).
Pam has mocked up several variations of the site…we’ll be posting one or two of them in the next few weeks.
April 15th, 2008
A staff survey and a series of focus groups were conducted in late fall-early winter to ascertain the needs of the Libraries’ staff and faculty in finding information needed to carry out their work tasks, and that was helpful to them as a Libraries/University employee. The Intranet Group is currently devising an organizational architecture for the intranet, and several mock-ups of potential designs have been developed. A preliminary design will be presented on the blog mentioned above in April.
March 28th, 2008
