Navigable ranges can be created and edited through a simple UI

[brittnylapierre]

Rationale

Creating and editing navigable ranges through a simple UI will enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities, improve content discoverability, and provide a more intuitive user experience by allowing direct navigation to specific sections of an item.

Outcomes

• Increased Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities

Implementing a Table of Contents (ToC) aligns with the WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0). The technique "G64: Providing a Table of Contents" promotes better accessibility by allowing users to:

1. Gain an overview of the document's contents and structure.
2. Navigate directly to specific sections within an online document.

By following these guidelines, web content becomes more accessible to a broader audience, particularly individuals with disabilities.

• Better Discoverability of Content

Incorporating a ToC can significantly enhance Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for content, particularly for resources like Canadiana. The ToC serves as a strategic placement for long-tail keywords, helping search engines like Google to better understand and rank the content. The presence of a ToC can result in more relevant search traffic, as it allows search engines to index the content more effectively. Websites utilizing a ToC are likely to achieve higher rankings in search results for terms related to the headings in the ToC.

• Faster, Less Frustrating, and Intuitive User Experience

A well-designed ToC enhances the user experience by allowing users to quickly locate the information they seek without excessive scrolling. This facilitates easy navigation between sections or chapters, reducing the frustration of guessing where content may be located.

• Alternative Access Points

A clickable ToC provides users with multiple pathways to access content, catering to different browsing behaviors. For users who prefer browsing, the ToC narrows down their focus, enabling them to find relevant sections quickly. For users with a specific goal, the ToC allows for straightforward access to desired information.

• Training and Support Materials

Creation training resources and documentation to help staff understand how to create and edit navigable ranges effectively, and users how to navigate through documents with the new feature.

Issues

• Work with Digirati on an estimate for the range editor functionality as an individual work package #32
• Integrate Digirati range editing extension into the UI #15