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Planning library web sites
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RE: RE: RE: RE: Planning library web sites
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
Check out the new Learning Center course on building library Web sites!

It's listed under the Sustainability, Advocacy, and Outreach series (near the bottom of the Online Courses page).
RE: Planning library web sites
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
I have problems managing the website. Keeping it looking not busy but fresh. Dead links are the worst.
RE: RE: Planning library web sites
1:59 PM EST 11/13/04 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
Hi Liz,

Welcome to the technology planning forum!

I think everyone who has a web site struggles with the same things - keeping it fresh -- keeping the balance between interesting and overwhelming.

I think it's hard to not want the site to be everything to everybody. The Internet just makes it possible to link to so much. I wonder if the key maybe, is to focus on a special feature or two -- ones that really match your community and ones that really are exciting to you, too - that get you excited about keeping up the web site.

A really cool resource is the Innovative Internet Applications in Libraries web site at [url http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/innovate.html ]http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/innovate.html.[/url] I have spent hours here - checking out the different things libraries are doing out there.

I am especially amazed by the things libraries in fairly rural areas have done -- for example, the Waterboro Pub Lib in Maine has done some extensive things with fiction.

Anyone else have suggestions and thoughts about keeping the library's web site up-to-date and interesting?

Thanks again, Liz, for re-viving this topic!

Brenda
RE: RE: RE: Planning library web sites
3:02 PM EDT 6/20/04 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
Ooops -- it looks like the link didn't work in that last post.

The site is at

[url http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/innovate.html ]http://www.wiltonlibrary.org/innovate.html[/url]

Brenda
Re: Planning library web sites
9:59 PM EDT 9/28/05 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
Hello! I have a question for the group. Currently, my library website is buried within the city website. I would like to register our own domain name www.anytownlibrary.org that could be linked to through our city site, www.anytown.org or linked to directly. However, the "suits" that work for the city feel the need to retain control. Are there some good arguments for having a library-specific domain name? An obvious one is easier to find and get to. Anything else? Most of the libraries in our area have their own so there must be an advantage.

Lise
Re: Planning library web sites
6:57 PM EDT 10/14/05 as a reply to Lise Chlebanowski.
Lise, this is a great question.

I find that library sites buried within city sites have too little vitality. The city sites are often full of ads and other distractions. The library doesn't get a chance to shine or highlight the unique features of its community. I've noticed that many smaller libraries are in the same situation, so I hope others will jump in here and add their ideas.

I think findability is the most important aspect of a library website. WebJunction's focus this month is all about "[url http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=11257 ]online community[/url]" and all the ways in which the "virtual branch" of the library is as important to the involvement of the community as the physical branches. We also had a great live, online event yesterday, in which a panel of librarians talked about the things they've done to make their websites interactive and visible to people who like to hang out online. If you're interested, the archived recording of the event is available [url /do/DisplayContent?id=11519 ]here[/url].

Can anyone else add some forceful arguments for Lise to take to the "suits"?
Re: Planning library web sites
6:14 PM EDT 10/14/05 as a reply to Brenda Hough.
Hello,
My library is currently engaged in a website redesign. Although we did not do focus groups to plan content, we did usability studies to assess the impact of the planned changes, and also got feedback from certain user groups about the appearance of the certain sections of the website (Kids, Teens etc). Although this didn't affect our initial planning, we did make changes in response to the feedback we received.

Decisions about what to change on our site were made by a Steering Committee (of which I was a member). The planning process took about six months, during which we evaluated our existing content, decided what kinds of changes we hoped to bring about (develop sense of place, better branding, better calendar tools, emphasize certain programming & features, streamlining the editing process, etc.), and figured out basically what the new design would look like. After creating templates for the new pages, we are currently starting the process of migrating our content. There has certainly been a lot to think about.
Re: Planning library web sites
7:07 PM EDT 10/14/05 as a reply to Shawn Flecken.
Shawn, this sounds like quite an involved process you're going through --as it should be. As long as you're undertaking the makeover, it's a good idea to do it thoroughly and carefully. I'm glad to hear that you got some usability feedback during the design stages, instead of after the launch as many other sites do.

I'd love to see "before and after" pictures. I've always loved looking at house remodels and comparing the drab 'before' with the energized 'after.' I hope you'll at least share a link to your new site when it's ready for prime time. emoticon

Also, I'm sure others would like to know about the "better calendar tools" and the trials and tribulations of migrating content. Keep us posted!
Re: Planning library web sites ... Facebook links?
12:41 PM EDT 8/2/07 as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
I couldn't find a better place for this. (Several on MySpace, nada on Facebook)

So if you're thinking of linking from your website you might want to keep this in mind:

http://mbites.com/2007/08/02/eight_reasons_why_facebook_owns_your_ass

The thing is ... you give up any ownership rights. Post a picture and it's their's to use as they see fit.