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Module 3: Library 2.0 and participatory library
services
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Designing effective library websites
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ACTIVITY
Identify
a website of a library or information agency you are familiar with (as either
an employee or user) that is utilising one or more Web 2.0 technologies to
provide information services and/or learning support.
Based on
your reading of Mathews (2009), Lazaris (2009), McBurnie (2007) and Governor et
al (2009):
- Develop your own set of
criteria (up to 10 criterion) with regard to effective library website
design; and
- Evaluate the effectiveness
of the selected library website based on your set of criteria, and
identify aspects of this website that could be improved using Web 2.0
technologies.
Criteria
1. Clean, uncluttered Homepage
2. Clear hierarchy
3. Visually appealing
4. Prominent search function
5. Pages customised to the intended
audience
6. Easy to locate branch details
7. Account basics – log-in,
catalogue and renewals
Frankston City Libraries (FCL)
1. FCL homepage has clean lines, is
uncluttered and straight forward to navigate.
2. With no drop down boxes under the
headings the user needs to go further to locate what they want.
3. The colours work well with the
layout. The use of icons, i.e.
headphones and calendars, breaks up the text (Mathews, 2009, pg2).
4. The search function is prominent
which appeals to users (Mathews, 2009, pg3).
5. No apparent children or teen
pages.
6. The branch details appear on the
homepage, most useful.
7. The log-in details are prominent,
however, how to renew will take the user a few more ‘clicks’ to find
FCL
banner and homepage are appealing, however as a user there is many selections
before you get somewhere. Matthews (2009) suggests that the overuse of links
may give the impression the website is complex to navigate. The subsequent pages are not as eye catching
as the homepage.
Frankston
City Libraries are also on Facebook and Twitter however there is no obvious
link on the homepage. There are links on
their blog and the user needs to scroll down the page to locate them. Each blog post does have a share option.
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
(YPRL)
1. YPRL homepage is clean and
uncluttered.
2. The use of drop down menus is
user friendly.
3. The design and colours are
appealing.
4. The search function is prominent.
5. All pages display the same, no
customisation for children or teens for example.
I found it difficult to obtain the branch
information, and some functions didn’t work.
6. Log-in details are in the top
banner, some users may find this difficult to locate at first.
YPRL
website is conservative. The information
was readily available and the ‘Recent Comments’ on the homepage indicates the
library is listen to their members issues (Mathews, 2009, pg3).
YRPL
don’t do anything different when it comes to the children’s page, unlike
Eastern Regional Libraries (ERL) which I will review next. Children don’t want a lot of text and respond
to bright colours, familiar icons, i.e. elements from nature as suggested by
Lazaris (2009, pg33).
Eastern Regional Libraries (ERL)
1. ERLs homepage is clean and
uncluttered. There is an area of white space. I’m wondering whether this could
be better used.
2. There is a clear hierarchy,
however the user needs to makes a few selections to get where they want to go.
3. ERLs homepage is appealing and
easy to experience.
4. The search function is prominent.
5. ERL have used different page
design, layout and colouring for the ‘Kids’ and ‘Teens’ pages. Identifying that they need to customised
their pages according to their audience (Matthews, 2009, pg2)
6. The user needs to select a couple
of options to obtain branch details.
7. Log-in details and catalogue
access are prominent, which leads the user to renewal options.
ERL has a
Twitter account and the feed is displayed on the homepage with a link to
follow.
The link
for their blog is below the fold so may be missed. There is also a link to Flickr where ERL have
numerous photos of branch renovations etc., which member would most probably be
interested in. This could feature more.
There are
two links on the homepage to Overdrive download which enables members to
download eBooks etc., one would probably be sufficient.
ERL
promote their libraries activities with a rolling display which is updated
regularly this is also suggested Matthews (2009, pg2).
