Library Web Sites : Practical Considerations and Research Completed

Library's have their own websites. Most libraries started a Web presence with a library catalog/catalogue.

How good is their look and feel, how value-added is their content and how nicely designed [re: World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)'s standards on usability] are these?  Are they as cool as Google and as tempting? One may find the answer in the following:

• Building an Academic Library Website: Experiences and challenges at IISER Mohali. By RAJESHWAR MISHRA and MALLIKARJUN ANGADI,  Journal of Indian Library Association 2011, 47(1) 5-10

Cited sources:

[1] R. W. Ongus, T. D. Kemparaju, and C.M. Nyamboga, “Evaluation of University Websites Targeting English Speaking Users: A Comparative Analysis Of Selected Sites In Developed And Developing Countries”, Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science, vol 11, 2, pp. 61-74, 2006.

[2] Mignon Adams, and Richard M. Dougherty, “How useful is your Homepage? A quick and practical approach to evaluating a library’s website”, College and Research Libraries News, vol 63, 8, pp. .590-92, 2002

[3] Charles Belangar, Joan Mount and Mathew Wilson, “Institutional image and retention”, Tertiary education and management, vol 8, 3, p. 217, 2002.

[4] L.A. Clyde, “The Library as Information Provider: The Home Page”, The Electronic Library, vol 14, 6, pp.549-558, 1996

[5] Sherry Piontek and Kristen Garlock, “Creating a World Wide Web Resource Collection”, Internet Research, vol 6, 4, pp. 20-26, 1996

[6] Pamela Harpel-Burke, “Library homepage design at medium-sized universities: A comparison to commercial homepages via Nielsen and Tahir”, OCLC Systems & Services, vol 21, 3, pp.193 – 208, 2005

[7] Rozic-Hristovski, Anamarija and Dimitar Hristovski Ljupco Todorovski, “Developing a medical library website at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia”, Program: electronic library and information systems, vol 33, 4, pp. 313-325, 1999

[8] R. Raward, “Academic library Website design principles: development of a checklist”, Australian Academic & Research Libraries, vol 32, 2, 2001 Available at http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/aarl/raward.html [inactive link]; see, the Checklist

[9] M. Stover, “Library Web sites: mission and function in the networked Organisation”, Computer in Libraries, vol 17, pp. 55-7, 1997 

[10]Mark Stove and Steven D. Zink, “World Wide Web Home Page Design: Patterns and Anomalies of  Higher Education Library Home Pages”, Reference Services Review, vol 24, pp. 7-20, 1996

On the same shelf:

•  The Mission and Role of the Library Web Site, Mark Stover
• Linda Main. Building Websites for a Multinational Audience. Scarecrow Press, 2002. Information Processing and Management, 40, 2004, 583-585. [reviewed by Dr. Mohamed Taher]
• Content and Workflow Management for Library Websites: Case Studies, Holly Yu (Ed.), Idea Group Inc, Hershey, PA, 2005 (259pp.) International Journal of Information Management, Volume 27, Issue 1, February 2007, Pages 59-60 [reviewed by Dr. Mohamed Taher]
• Melody Y. Ivory. Automated Web Site Evaluation: Researchers' and Practitioners' Perspectives. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.Information Processing and Management, Jan2007, Vol. 43 Issue 1, p. 288-290 [reviewed by Dr. Mohamed Taher]
• UContent: The Information Professional's Guide to User-Generated Content, By Nicholas G. Tomaiuolo, Information Today, Inc. (2012), ISBN-13: 978-1573874250.
• Hock, R. (2002, September/October). A new era of search engines: Not just web pages anymore. Online, 26(5), 31.
• Janowski, A. (2005). Instant web sites! (Just add content). School Library Journal, 51(1), 50-52.
• Sauers, M. P. (2006). Blogging and RSS:  A librarian’s guide.  Medford, NJ:  Information Today
• 
  
  Vesey, K. ( 2004). Building a better clicks-and-mortar library. Library Media Connection, 22(7). 
• Young, T. (2002). The weakest link: Library catalogs. Book Report, 20(4), 6-14.

Reviewing website: Best Practices

Here is a best practice approach in evaluating Website:

Website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology ( WCAG-EM ) @ W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Draft 7 February 2013

Application of this Methodology
The methodology defined by this document is flexible to allow its implementation in different situations and contexts. It is not required to carry out any of the steps and activities defined by this methodology in any particular sequence. For proper application of this methodology, use all the following Methodology Requirements:

1: Define the Evaluation Scope
2: Explore the Target Website
3: Select a Representative Sample
4: Audit the Selected Sample
5: Report the Evaluation Findings

Results, reports, accessibility statements, and performance scores can only be claimed to be in accordance with this methodology when the evaluation carried out meets these Methodology Requirements.

See also Google's approach
See also: Other best practices, worth visualizing:

Visual Appeal

What or Personality

Where or Design & Layout

How or Reader Usability

Why or Functionality

Meeting browser / visitor expectations, Adapted from: graphic-design.com

When or Interactive Features (dynamic not static)

Which or Content (and context)

Why or Layout (and site plan),Adapted from: Yellow Bridge Interactive's Checklist

How to use the Website

 Website of the Month guidelines ACRL

2013 Annual Website Review Checklist (with metrics to measure web sights)

Website Title, Website URL, Category to which it belongs (using a self designed or Library of Congress categories)

Overall Rating:
5 star- This website is really good! It doesn't need any changes.
4 star- The website is good. I would only change a few things.
3 star- The website is okay. It could use some major changes.
2 star- The website is bad. It needs a lot of improvement to be good.
1 star- The website is awful. I will never visit it again.
Adapted from: Review A Website | SmartGirl Suggests

ForeSee Survey names best and worst websites

PS. This is not my review. Courtesy: TIMES OF INDIA and cuhea.com. Web Outperforms Mobile; Amazon, Avon, Apple Debut on Top of Retail Edition of ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index: ForeSee Results See more details:

Online shopping: Survey names best and worst websites

Amazon.com remained the best website for shopping online, while JC Penney suffered the largest drop in customer satisfaction of any major online retailer this holiday season, according to a survey released on Thursday. Flash sale sites Gilt.com and RueLaLa.com were among the worst performers in online shopping satisfaction this season, according to ForeSee's Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index. continue reading

Apple scores big bump in customer satisfaction

To Link, or Not To Link: Revisited

PS. This is a continuing post, to be updated regularly. Linking a website, has led to a major debate. The following articles relate to the debate and give you insight on how libraries or law abiding institutions can avoid the problems:

Latham, Joyce M. To Link, or Not To Link. School Library Journal, May 2, 2002;48(5):20.-- Latham, J. M. (2002). To Link, or Not to Link. Library Journal, 127(7), 20. Abstract: Discusses the policies of libraries concerning Web sites considered to be important by the libraries. Importance to libraries of policies concerning links to library Web sites; Evaluation of Web sites; Need for libraries to be selective in Web sites linked to library sites; Mention of the Bettendorf Public Library in Iowa.

Pike, G. H. (2002). To Link or Not to Link. Information Today, 19(6), 20. Abstract: Focuses on the legal issues associated with hyperlinks and hypertext on Web sites. Copyright of Web site contents; Lawsuits which illustrate copyright issues such as that between Ticketmaster and Tickets.com involving the practice of deep linking; Changing nature of these legal issues; Suggestion that hyperlink issues bear watching.

Shkolnikov, T. (2002). To Link or Not to Link: How to Avoid Copyright Traps on the Internet. Journal Of Academic Librarianship, 28(3), 133. Abstract: Discusses the problem of avoiding Web-related copyright liabilities in library activities, including legal ramifications of linking and librarians' responsibility for the content of the linked sites. Major source of copyright conflicts; Details of various court cases about copyright liabilities of libraries; Recommendations for librarians.

Battisti M. «To Link Or Not To Link» (¹). Hyperlinks, liabilities and responsibilities. IFLA Conference Proceedings. November 2003;:1-12

Shkolnikov, Tanya. 2002. "To Link or Not to Link: How to Avoid Copyright Traps on the Internet." Journal Of Academic Librarianship 28, no. 3: 133. Abstract: Discusses the problem of avoiding Web-related copyright liabilities in library activities, including legal ramifications of linking and librarians' responsibility for the content of the linked sites. Major source of copyright conflicts; Details of various court cases about copyright liabilities of libraries; Recommendations for librarians.

Web Site Linking: Right or Privilege, by Richard A. Spinello, June 4-5, 1999

Stanford Copyright & Fair Use - Connecting to Other Websites --Two common ways websites connect to other sites are linking and framing.

Publishing and Linking on the Web - W3C Working Draft 18 September 2012 Abstract: Hyperlinks are an essential part of the web. They give additional information and added value to a website. But various court actions indicate that hyperlinks could also imply additional liabilities. At first, hyperlinks allowed the addition of cross-references. Today they also raise several legal issues. Other possible misappropriations arise from the non-observance of ethical guidelines or netiquette. The purpose of this paper is to present the various types of hyperlinks, then the liabilities which some of them could incur in order to avoid them, while keeping in mind the basic principle of freedom of information. Links and Law: Myths

Myth one: "A normal link is an incitement to copy the linked document in a way which infringes copyright".

Myth Two: Making a link to a document makes your document more valuable and therefore is a right you should pay".

Myth three: Making a link to someone's publicly readable document is an infringement of privacy. continue reading

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) about Linking Ways to build if you choose to:

How to Build Links Fast: 101 Tips & Strategies, seobook.com

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