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Problems on Library Websites and How to Fix Them

Learn how to solve common issues on library websites such as missing information, navigation problems, and ineffective search options. Includes helpful tips and solutions.

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Problems on Library Websites and How to Fix Them

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  1. 25 PROBLEMS ON LIBRARY WEBSITES (AND HOW TO FIX THEM) #libsite25 Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

  2. http://oplin.ohio.gov

  3. Humor, you haz it?

  4. ANECDOTES

  5. Laura’s Incredibly SubjectiveComplexity Scale* *NOT PROPORTIONAL OY Get a pro MEH Might need some HTML/CSS knowledge EASY No big deal

  6. Agenda • Missing but not forgotten • Everybody else got the memo • Search headaches • A major league you don’t want to be in #libsite25

  7. MISSING BUT NOT FORGOTTEN #libsite25 Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

  8. #25 Board of Trustees?

  9. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3375.33v1

  10. EASY Add board member names to your library’s website. Contact info and/or photos are nice but optional.

  11. #24 No phone and/or address on homepage

  12. MEH Add the address and main phone number to the homepage, either in the header or footer. You may need some basic HTML/CSS to shift things around to fit these elements.

  13. #23 No hours or hours link on homepage

  14. MEH Add the hours, either in full or as a conspicuous link. You may need some basic HTML/CSS to shift things around to fit this element.

  15. #22 No custom favicon

  16. MEH Create a custom favicon. You may need some basic HTML/CSS to add the metatag for this element. You may need basic graphic design skills to create the image.

  17. #21 No breadcrumb trails

  18. OY If you’re not using a content management system with this feature built in, you’re going to need a professional. To create breadcrumb trails dynamically, you’ll need someone to write some serious code.

  19. EVERYBODY ELSE GOT THE MEMO #libsite25 Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

  20. #20 Using images as text

  21. MEH Replace images of text with actual text. You may need some basic HTML/CSS to insert, position and style the text.

  22. #19 Logos that don’t link to home

  23. MEH Make your library’s logo a link to the homepage. You may need some basic HTML to add a link to your library’s logo.

  24. WARNING THE FOLLOWING MAY BE DISTURBING FOR SOME AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

  25. #18 Logos, logos everywhere

  26. MEH Do you really need ALL of those logos? Evaluate carefully. You may need some basic HTML to remove these and/or add some descriptive annotations.

  27. #17 Clip art

  28. EASY Stop using clip art. Even stock photography is a step up. But evaluate whether or not an added graphic really adds value, or just is a cutsey-add-on.

  29. #16 Problematic navigation

  30. EASY Change the wording to intuitive terms. People are task-driven on the web. See the webinar handout for more info on better terms to use.

  31. #15 Rotating banners (carousels)

  32. MEH Look, I know you won’t get rid of it, no matter what the data says. At least make sure that the images have alternative text attributes and that the carousel doesn’t auto-rotate.

  33. #14 Fonts under 16 px

  34. MEH Make all text at least 16 pixels. You may need some basic CSS to change font sizes.

  35. #13 Huge flyer images

  36. EASY Just stop doing this! You’re slowing your library’s site down, making it more inaccessible to handicapped users and costing people more money on mobile.

  37. #12 Staff-only links

  38. EASY Get rid of the staff login link. Buy a simple domain for your library’s intranet, have staff bookmark it, whatever it takes. Get it off the site.

  39. #11 Unnecessary widgets

  40. MEH Remove widgets that don’t provide real value to your patrons. You may need some basic HTML to remove these kinds of items.

  41. SEARCH HEADACHES #libsite25 Laura Solomon @laurasolomonlaura@designforthelittleguy.com

  42. #10 No search at all

  43. #9 No search options

  44. #8 More than one search

  45. #7 Placeholder text

  46. #6 Search in the wrong place

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