Definition
A situation that arises from difficulty accessing collection items within a collection due to unclear access points or inappropriate design of collection homepages.
Factors Leading to the Situation
- Complex information presentation: multiple layers (or steps) to relevant DL items
- Inadequate support: Unclear access point to collection items
Guidelines
- Provide easy access to collection items.
- Provide concise collection descriptions (e.g., content, scope, and organization).
Rationale for Suggesting the above Guidelines
Many DLs (text with tooltip) The acronym for digital library (DL) consist of diverse digital collections. Easy access to collection items is important for users to browse and find relevant information. Providing collection descriptions can further help users better understand the main topic or content of digital collections before browsing collection items. The suggested guidelines ensure that BVI (text with tooltip) The acronym for Blind and Visually Impaired. It refers to BVI users who rely on screen readers to interact with digital libraries (DLs). users can find items of interest within collections.
Techniques and Methods to Comply with a Specific Design Guideline
1.1. Assign links with distinctive labels for direct access to the list of collection items and collection homepages containing collection descriptions.
1.2. Develop filtering features to enable users to restrict the number of shown collection items.
2.1. Present a concise summary on the homepage of each collection to offer background information about each collection, such as its main content, scope, and the way it is organized.
Features Suggested for Users
1.1.1. “Collection homepage links” and links to their associated collection items (See example 1.1.1.a./1.2.1.a.)
1.2.1. “Search filter” (See example 1.1.1.a./1.2.1.a.)
2.1.1. “Collection overview” containing collection description or
metadata
(text with tooltip)
Data that provides information about other data is constructed with structured data to describe and organize resources in the digital environment and enable users to discover and use the content of digital libraries.
(See example 2.1.1.a.)
Examples of Best Practice
1.1.1.a./1.2.1.a. Easy access to collection items with search features
For each collection, users can click the collection title to go to the collection homepage. On each collection homepage presented in ACC4 Figure a1, the DL provides a brief collection description below the collection title, followed by a list of collection items. The filter feature on the left panel titled “Filter your search” enables users to apply different filters to find items of interest.
ACC4 Figure a1. An example of a collection with a list of collection items
2.1.1.a. Collection overview containing collection description with easily locatable link to items
In the search results illustrated in ACC4 Figure a2, users can view a list of collections accompanied by descriptions and links that direct them to the respective collection items.
ACC4 Figure a2. An example of DL collection description with easily locatable link to items
Examples of Poor Practice
1.1.1.b. Difficulty accessing collection items within a collection
In the search results (see left image), two links are provided to access a digital collection. The top link under “Collection” will direct you to the collection’s homepage, while the bottom link under “Collection items” will lead to a page displaying the list of collection items. Without clear labels for each link, there is a risk of confusion in understanding the purpose of the presented list. Furthermore, if users access the collection homepage, they will need to navigate the menu to find “Collection Items” to access the list of collection items.
ACC4 Figure b1. Screenshot of difficulty accessing collection items
Resources
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- Victorian Collections Helpdesk. (n.d.). Making your collection accessible.
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See also: