The Ghost Of Melvil Dewey Haunts The Web

Unfortunately, far too many websites feature an information architecture and content strategy more akin to the Dewey Decimal System then to today’s users needs. Dewey’s classification of books into searchable sections of the library was an excellent service for researchers and library lovers, but it’s a poor match for the online organization of information.

The categorical approach inspired by the Dewey Decimal System forces website visitors to spend more time and effort trying to figure out how what they want to learn fits into pre-assigned categories. Let’s face it—patience isn’t much of a virtue online. Web users want what they want, when they want it. There is no tolerance for designs that force them to forage from section to section. If users can’t get their questions answered quickly, they leave.
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