1	Uncovering the Secrets of Successful Library Web Sites Andrea Mercado .:. NAHSL 2006, Hartford, CT
2	Web Site = Online Branch Customer service Apply mission, vision, and goals Learn to think like a user Bulk of success comes from planning
3	Have a plan Mission, vision, and goals Resources (time, money, personel, technology) 2- to 5-year long-term, 6-month short-term Weekly maintenance (keeping it fresh) Monthly maintenance (keeping it clean) Wiggle room for spontaneity
4	Team and Necessary Skills Manager: Team manager, point person for site Basic knowledge of technologies involved, including XHTML/CSS (at least basic, if not editing), or content management system (CMS) Advertising and outreach Statistics watcher Designers: In-house or hired Usability AND user behaviors ADA compliance (Section 108) AND W3C standards Contributors Can write for the web Assist advertising and outreach Site editors XHTML/CSS, or CMS Basic image editing IT department: make friends, stay collaborative
5	Learning the Tech Stuff XHTML W3 Schools: http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml/default.asp Webmonkey http://www.webmonkey.com/webmonkey/authoring/ CSS W3 Schools: http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp Webmonkey: http://www.webmonkey.com/webmonkey/authoring/stylesheets/ Web Site Statistics “Understanding Site Statistics” 4-part series from Eat Drink Sleep Movable Type http://www.eatdrinksleepmovabletype.com/tags/discussions/ “7 Easy Secrets To Understanding Web Statistics” http://www.articlealley.com/article_17978_4.html Usability
6	Mysterious Magic of Statistics What users are and aren’t finding Possible surprises on what’s popular Evaluate what matters most to users Use statistics for interval planning and evaluation Ask IT to give an overview
7	Successful Site Must-Haves Organize like a web site, NOT a library Clear and present, consistent branding AND site navigation (preferably text navigation that can expand) Link to parent organization (and vice-versa!) Help and contact links on every page Site-wide search Fresh home page content weekly
8	More Site Must-Haves Think PDA, smartphone, iPod, laptop, etc. Healthy white space Think task-oriented Path of least click instance to frequently-sought tools (catalog, databases, let your site statistics guide you) Concise but descriptive resource descriptions
9	Successful Site Eventual Adds Text News Blogs Podcasts Vidcasts Screencasts Photos Wikis
10	Successful Site Must-Nots Image-heavy site navigation Cluttered, busy layouts Tech use for the sake of tech use Email address links (if you must, use spam-proof code) Broken links Thinking like a librarian Using librarian moon language Writing print-style for the web
11	A Clean Site is a Good Site Site problem form that emails directly to the person in charge of maintenance Develop a monthly maintenance plan: Link check: fix or delete broken links, forms, etc. Check stats: address needy areas Take email feedback into consideration Decide on implementing spontanious additions, if applicable
12	Simple Outreach & Advertising Put your URL on everything Update announcements in newletters, on listservs Signage for weekly changes to site Word of mouth marketing Linking partnerships with departments Big, wonderful link from parent organization
13	Stay User-Minded Solicit constant feedback Feedback survey on site Paper copies near computers, reference desk Ask patrons during point-of-service interactions Perform light usability studies at 6-month checkpoint Love your statistics, use your statistics
14	Resources & Further Reading Elsevier LibraryConnect Pamphlet #5: How to Design Library Web Sites to Maximize Usability (.pdf): Short set of simple-to-implement guidelines to help librarians design usable library Web sites. http://tinyurl.com/ycvpl6 Jakob Nielsen on Usability and Web Design: The god of usability on the web. The heuristics are a great place for beginners to start. http://www.useit.com/ Vincent Flanders’ Web Pages That Suck: Exactly what it sounds like. Learn from the mistakes of others! http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/ WebJunction: Web Site Development http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=517 Website Design – Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki: Visit the wiki, it is your friend. Feel free to add anything while you’re there! http://libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Website_Design
15	Contact Information Andrea Mercado Reference & Techie Librarian Reading Public Library Reading, MA 781-944-0840 mercado@noblenet.org See also: http://www.LibraryTechtonics.info http://www.PLABlog.org