Michigan State University Press Journals Division

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Michigan State University Press Journals Division

• www.msupress.msu.edu/journals

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Problems?
The Michigan State University Press is an
academic press. Most of our subscriptions come
from the academic sector JSTOR, Project Muse,
associations connected to individual journals,
etc. A major concern within the Press is the lack
of subscriptions from ordinary people. The
website is maintained for the sole purpose of
enticing new people to subscribe to the journals.
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Accessibility

• Not a big problem
• Can be accessed through the MSU server, or
  through a Google search if you know what
  youre looking for.

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Sustainability

• This is a problem
• The MSU Press Books Division has an actual web
  designer who manages and updates their website,
  but the Journals Division required more frequent
  updates and it became clear that the two could
  not coexist with the same designer.
• The Code is old, and unwieldy, and is not
  standards compliant.
• The site has not been updated to reflect the
  addition of several new journals because it is
  incredibly time-consuming and difficult.
• A system needs to be devised where multiple
  people have the skills and access to regularly
  update the site.

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Usability

• This is a bigger problem.
• This site is bogged down with too much
  unnecessary information and misleading
  terminology.
• It is unclear how to buy a single journal, or
  electronic article.
• Aesthetically the site is unpleasing to the eye,
  an average consumer would be turned off by the
  outdated look of the site.

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RDC MSU Journals
Data Sources
Methods
Who/When?
Question
What is the main purpose of this website?
Staff Potential Buyers
Interviews
Jennifer, AJ and Krystal Nov. 27th-30th
Does the style theme of the website need to be in
link with the MSU Press page?
Interviews Possibly some e-mail contact
Jennifer, AJ and Krystal Nov. 15th-Dec. 1st
Staff for both MSU Press and Journals Division
What information is necessary to meet these needs?
Jennifer, AJ and Krystal Nov. 15th-Dec. 1st
Faculty Visitors (friends) Potential Buyers
Interviews Scenarios Question Sheets
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GANTT Chart
Nov December
Genre analysis (Publishing Press Sites)
Interviewing
Site Creator
Prospective Subscribers
User testing (Students and Subscribers)
Progress Report due
Current system
Create samples
Draft final Report due
Web prototype
Similar to MSU Press main page (books site)
Final Report due