The DLI Survival Guide: A reference document for DLI Contacts

1. The DLI Survival Guide: A reference document for DLI Contacts Marie-Claire Lauzon, Statistics Canada 2008 DLI Atlantic Training Acadia University, April 23, 2008

2. Objectives • Provide an overview of the DLI Survival Guide – A quick reference guide for DLI Contacts • Give you the opportunity to test drive the Guide and let us know what you think and how we can improve this tool!

3. What is it? • A web-based reference document • Developed for all DLI Contacts • Will be especially helpful for new DLI Contacts and DLI Contacts who devote a small amount of time to data services

4. Contents • Table of contents, 8 sections and a glossary • For example: • What type of software do I need to access the FTP? • What is a microdata file and how is it different from a CANSIM table or a Beyond 20/20 table? • I have forgotten my DLI password, what should I do? • I need some help with a data reference question! Where can I find some help? • What are PUMFs, IDLS, the EAC, NOC and SOC?

5. The DLI Survival Guide – A bit of history • The “Brian McNally First Aid CD-ROM” produced by Elizabeth Hamilton and her colleagues at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) • Training binder for new data librarians developed by the DLI unit (1997) • Needed to be updated, expanded and become web-based to serve the needs of DLI Contacts across Canada

6. The DLI Survival Guide – A bit of history • Jane Fry, Carleton University, and the DLI unit at Statistics Canada worked together to create the existing Guide • Chuck Humphrey, University of Alberta and Nancy Lemay, University of Ottawa, also contributed to the Guide

7. DLI Survival Guide – National Training Day Demo • Draft version of the Guide presented during the DLI National Training Day (May 2007) • DLI unit received more than 100 suggestions from the DLI community • Incorporated these suggestions and translated the Guide • Released an updated, password protected, version

8. DLI Survival Guide – Recent developments • Last month, the Centre of Expertise on Accessibility reviewed the guide and provided accessibility related recommendations • Their recommendations led us to re-write and re-code certain sections of the Guide. For example: • Replaced menu on right side with links at the top • Removed any instances of “click here” • Re-wrote expressions like “Position your mouse over the link below" (not everyone uses a mouse)

9. DLI Survival Guide – Next Steps • Currently testing search feature with search specialists from our Dissemination Division • This week, the Guide is undergoing usability testing • Examine how the Guide works in different browsers • Identify any broken links • Provide usability recommendations • We will then implement the usability recommendations and release the Guide

10. Hands-on Exercise • It’s your turn to test drive the Guide and to let us know how it can be improved!

11. Your thoughts… • Will you use it? • What do you like best?  • What do you like least?  • General Comments?