Shannon Robalino 

Information Specialist

South East Public Health Observatory (SEPHO)

Biography

Shannon is the Knowledge & Information Services Manager at the South East Public Health Observatory where she manages the web site and provides library services to the staff. She has a background in public services and digital libraries. She is based in Oxford

Abstract

Getting web developers to wear sensible shoes: working with developers to create online user services..

In 2004, five Public Health Observatories joined to form a consortium to improve an existing resource management system.  Our initial goal was to improve the RMS so it would be easy to use, fully interoperable with all PHO's and other sites, and provide a one-stop-shop for public health professionals. Our continuing goal is to refine the RMS to improve usability and incorporate further enhancements to meet the one-stop-shop needs of our users.

The majority of the consortial Design Team that participated in creating the specifications and requirements of the upgraded system are web developers with little or no experience in traditional information management. To create a service that is comprehensive but intuitive and easy to use was not always easy to achieve, especially when considering issues such as searching and usability and the varying abilities of our broad base of users.

I will discuss my role as the only member of the Design Team that has an information management background as opposed to that of a web developer. I will also address the difficulties in balancing the needs of different organisations, costs, and the benefits of working in such a group. And finally, as the sole information professional, being heard when making recommendations that put the users' needs ahead of the technologies that supply the service.

This page was last updated on: 11 May, 2006