Chapter 2. Design for the User, Not the Staff

Abstract

I was once asked to talk to a library science class at a large university about what I do and what real-world advice I might care to impart to a group of potential web librarians. One of the things I shared was the major challenges that I typically face in my job.

Being in a tech position means that keeping up is a must, and “keeping up” is a moving target. It’s a huge undertaking, and I don’t always feel like I’m conquering it. However, that’s not one of the things that raises my blood pressure. In every job, there are obstacles that one enjoys working around, and then there are those that make one want to pull one’s hair out.