After completing the readings, a standout comment for me was “The website is your library’s most important feature” (Mathews, 2009). So, following on from that, I think the next 10 aspects need to be included for effective library websites.
1. Appearance – should be uncluttered, no advertising and no distractions down the sides. Use photos and icons to soften the look of text and draw the user in to explore the page.
2. Navigation – should be clear, easy to use and not involve too many steps for the user to need to use in order to navigate to the information they are after. Remember the 2 click theory.
3. Promotion – needs to be overt, so that the website isn’t buried deep in the school website. Once users have found you, make their first impression of the appearance count, so that they want to come back again to enjoy a positive experience.
4. Visual cues – use these to break up text, so the information is not just all words and links. Incorporate the use of photos, icons and videos to appeal to a varied audience.
5. Include appropriate content – make sure information is appropriate to the target group. Also, keep content fresh with no dead links and current for the needs of the users.
6. Establish a social network presence – this will help highlight your organization, but it must be credible and not just lip service. “The library’s use of any social networking tool must be purposeful”. (McBurnie,2007)
7. Use analytics – to monitor usage and patterns. This then helps when planning what content to have available for users so that the website stays current and relevant and is inviting for users to return to.
8. Feedback – allows users to gain a sense of ownership and involvement. Contributes to growth of shared knowledge and community.
9. Provide mobile friendly pages – to reach users wherever they are.
10. Search boxes – these can be embedded in headers or navigation bars. Useful because users can access the information they want more efficiently.
The library website at the school at which I work, includes the provision of appropriate content and has tried to make the appearance positive and easy to navigate. However, due to constraints imposed by IT staff, the library website is difficult to locate on the school website and navigation is cumbersome. Some of the terms used as headings need to be revised so that they are relevant to users, rather than being ‘library correct’. Apart from a blog for new fiction, there are no social networking tools being used to engage with users.
The library needs to initiate a more interactive site using twitter or facebook and also to provide a forum so that users can add content and offer feedback. The design itself also needs a revamp as it is very conventional and HTML in appearance, not inviting any two way interaction between the library and staff and students.
REFERENCES
Mathews, B. (2009). Web design matters: Ten essentials for any library site. Library Journal, (15 February). Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6634712.html?industryid=47126
McBurnie, J. (2007). Your online identity: Key to marketing and being found. FUMSI, (October). Retrieved from http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/share/2510
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