INF206 - Module Three - Effective Library Website

Module 3: Library 2.0 and participatory library services

Designing effective library websites

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):

1. Develop your own set of criteria (up to 10 criterion) with regard to effective library website design; and
2. 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).