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Creating A Library Website

This document outlines 7 best practices for creating a user-friendly library website: 1) Have a clear vision, 2) Make search easy to access, 3) Keep navigation simple, 4) Use the home page to introduce key services, 5) Avoid library jargon, 6) Ensure the site is accessible to all users, 7) Conduct usability testing to improve the user experience. Following these practices can help create a website that is intuitive for library patrons to use.

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spsps library
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66 views

Creating A Library Website

This document outlines 7 best practices for creating a user-friendly library website: 1) Have a clear vision, 2) Make search easy to access, 3) Keep navigation simple, 4) Use the home page to introduce key services, 5) Avoid library jargon, 6) Ensure the site is accessible to all users, 7) Conduct usability testing to improve the user experience. Following these practices can help create a website that is intuitive for library patrons to use.

Uploaded by

spsps library
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Creating a Library Website

Website
 a group of World Wide Web pages usually
containing hyperlinks to each other and made
available online by an individual, company,
educational institution, government, or
organization.
World Wide Web
is basically a system of Internet servers that
support specially formatted documents. The
documents are formatted in a markup language
called HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
that supports links to other documents, as well as
graphics, audio, and video files.
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
1. Have a Vision

A vision defines your library website’s goals. It also


guides and inspires decisions about your library
website.

Recommendations
Keep the statement to one to two sentences.
Align it with the library’s and institution’s mission
statements.
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
2. Easy Access to Search

Search is the primary action a user takes on the library


website.

Recommendations
Make the search box prominent on the home page.
Have one search box on a page.
Provide a description or an example within the search box
or search box area to set users’ expectations.
For a multi-tabbed search box, label tabs in plain language
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
3. Keep Navigation Simple
 Too many navigation options may prevent your users from accessing what
they need.
 “I don’t want to have to navigate this site the way they want me to. I just
want to find the thing I’m looking for.” - Jakob Nielsen
Recommendations
 Display five to six main navigation items at the most. Do not overwhelm
your users.
 Top-level navigation should represent high-level categories of your
content.
 Common top navigation items include: Search, Services, Research, About
Us, Help, My Account.
 Validate your navigation by conducting a paper card sort, or use these
online tools: OptimalSort & Treejack (free and paid versions available).
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
4. Home Page is a Gateway
First impressions are
 critical. Your home page is typically the most visited page,
and where your users begin their research.

Recommendations

Do not clutter your home page with too many options.
Give users just enough detail to make the decision to explore. “3 click rule” is not always
the best practice.
Items to display on home page:

Primary user actions (i.e., Search)


Book a Study Room
Location(s) & Hours
Library News & Events
Contact Us/ Ask-A-Librarian
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
5. Eliminate Library-ese
Library jargon (aka Library-ese) is one of the most reported issues identified in user
testing. Unfamiliar terms are barriers to users fully utilizing library resources/services.

Terms Not Understood by Students

Boolean
Catalog
HTML Full Text
EPUB
e-Book Full Text
Database
Trade Publication
Cont.
Recommendations

Weed your content!


Write in plain language.
Be aware of library-ese when branding your link
resolver and/or discovery service.
Provide explanatory text when needed.
Do not rely on a glossary!
Ask a non-librarian to validate your content.
Conduct a survey or usability testing.
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
6. Empower All Your Users. Make the Library
Website Accessible
Inaccessible websites are barriers to all users. Students
with disabilities are faced with frustration and
helplessness.
“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by
everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”
- Tim Berners-Lee, Father of the World Wide Web
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
Recommendations

HTML Page Titles must be descriptive (i.e., Your Institution Library: Browse
Journals).
Link text must indicate intent or content.
Images must have alt-text or off-screen text.
Audio/Video content must include captioning or transcripts.
Website must be navigable by keyboard only.
If you display a carousel, do not set it to auto-play. Offer an option to stop.
Validate that your website is usable for folks who are colorblind.
Recommended Tool: Colour Contrast Analyser (free)
Become familiar with screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA) and other assistive
technologies used by your students.
Test your library website for accessibility. Recommended Tool: WAVE (free)
7 Best Practices for Creating a User Friendly
Library Website
7. Conduct Usability Testing
Testing users informs decisions about the library website. You have evidence to
make and defend your decisions.

Recommendations

To quote Jakob Nielsen, “Test early. Test often.”


Start with paper prototypes (it can be just a rough sketch) continue through
final designs.
Testing five to seven users identifies 85 percent of usability issues.
Schedule usability testing sessions monthly at same day/time.
Want to test students anytime/anywhere? Unmoderated remote user testing
is a quick way to get results. Recommended tool: usertesting.com
Source:
https://www.ebsco.com/blog/article/7-best-practices-
for-creating-a-user-friendly-library-website
Thank you and have a nice day!

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