The instruction librarian’s role in creating a usable Web site

The importance of creating a usable library Web site has been well documented in the literature; however, little has been written on the role of instruction in the process of Web site evaluation and design. This paper describes experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and highlights the significant role that instruction librarians need to play in assessing and creating usable Web sites. The authors argue that instruction librarians need to address the impact that a poorly designed Web site has on user education programs, and become actively involved in the redesign process. With their unique experience and perspective, instruction librarians have much to contribute to the process, and even more to gain. By understanding the mental model our users bring to their search for information, we can improve the instruction we offer.