Davidsen, Susanna L.
DAVIDSEN, Susanna L.
PERSONAL: Married; children: two. Education: University of Michigan, B.A.
ADDRESSES: Home—Chelsea, MI. Offıce—University of Michigan, 404E West Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092. E-mail—davidsen@umich.edu.
CAREER: UMI Research Press (now Bell & Howell Information and Learning), Ann Arbor, MI, former indexer, cataloger, and editor; Concordia University, Ann Arbor, former head of public services; Library of Michigan, former government information librarian; MLink, former technology librarian, operations manager, and creator of GoMLink (now Michigan Electronic Library); Michigan Electronic Library, former director; ProQuest, former product manager; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, former reference librarian, currently adjunct lecturer on government information and policy at School of Information Science and associate director for academic outreach and practical experience programs. Former president, Chelsea District Library Board; creator and former moderator of Michlib-L; former board member, Internet Public Library; consultant and advisor to digital library and portal projects. Also professional singer in cathedrals, bars, and discos.
MEMBER: American Library Association—Library and Information Technology Association, American Library Association, American Society for Information Science & Technology, University Continuing Education Association, Michigan Library Association.
AWARDS, HONORS: Paul W. Thurston Award, 1995, for contributing to public awareness of government information; Walter F. Kaiser Award, 1996, for bringing innovation to the libraries of the State of Michigan.
WRITINGS:
(With Everyl Yankee) Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind: A Step-by-Step Guide for Libraries, American Library Association (Chicago, IL), 2004.
Author of articles to periodicals, including American Libraries, Library High Tech, Vine, M-Link News, and Journal of Academic Librarianship. Editor, Red Tape, 1990
SIDELIGHTS: Susanna L. Davidsen is one of the pioneers of library Web design and information technology, having served for eight years as the director of the Michigan Electronic Library, which is the state's free online library. Davidsen has used her extensive experience in developing Web sites and other electronic information resources to write Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind: A Step-by-Step Guide for Libraries with Everyl Yankee. Here the authors primarily focus on the philosophy and early decision-making behind designing or redesigning a library Web site as opposed to the nuts-and-bolts process involving such technical aspects as Java script and making appealing graphics. The authors especially emphasize designing the site with the goal of making it user-friendly so the library's patrons can find information quickly and efficiently.
In their book, the authors guide the reader through a series of steps aimed at helping a Web site design team set the site's goal, mission, and vision. They stress the need to identify who the library's patrons are by collecting data on patrons and creating profiles. Part of the reason behind this "profiling" is to make sure that those creating the Web site understand what their patrons want to do. Since most libraries already have a Web site, the authors also discuss whether or not the current Web site needs to be redesigned or if the staff should start from scratch and create an entirely new Web site. The book concludes with a chapter on evaluating and testing the final product.
Writing in American Libraries, Cathleen Bourdon noted that the "authors break the process into clear phases with checklists and planning charts." Calling the book "a great starting point for a library's Web redesign team," Information Today contributor Gwen M. Gregory also commented, "This book will help you get your head in the right place for improving your library's Web site." And Robin Hoelle described the book as "a great tool" in a review for Booklist. Hoelle concluded, "The authors have taken on a difficult task with aplomb."
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:
PERIODICALS
American Libraries, April, 2004, Cathleen Bourdon, review of Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind: A Step-by-Step Guide for Libraries, p. 96.
Booklist, September 1, 2004, Robin Hoelle, review of Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind, 165.
Information Today, July-August, 2004, Gwen M. Gregory, review of Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind, p. 40.
Library Journal, May 1, 2004, Robert Battenfeld, review of Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind, 147.
ONLINE
Sue Davidsen's Home Page,http://www-personal.umich.edu/~davidsen (November 4, 2004).
Wired Librarian's Newsletter,http://www.wiredlibrarian.com/ (November 4, 2004), review of Web Site Design with the Patron in Mind.