OLJ Activity - Library Website Design

Identify a website of a library or information agency you are familiar with (as either an employee or user) that is utilising one or more Web 2.0 technologies to provide information services and/or learning support.

Based on your reading of Mathews (2009), Lazaris (2009), McBurnie (2007) and Governor et al (2009):

1. develop your own set of criteria (up to 10 criterion) with regard to effective library website design; and
2. evaluate the effectiveness of the selected library website based on your set of criteria, and identify aspects of this website that could be improved using Web 2.0 technologies.

I have chosen the State Library of Queensland to base this OLJ activity on.

Criteria for website evaluation	Yes/No Comment
Promotion Does the website promote library events, collection, services, popular materials? Is the website current and refreshed regularly? (Matthews, 2009)	Yes Events are updated and current. A calendar is embedded. Tabs at the top include resources, showcase and what’s on.
Search Boxes Are there search boxes imbedded on every page? Are the search boxes, federated search boxes? (Matthews, 2009)	Yes The search bar remains on the top of each page. It is a federated search bar with options to search the catalogue, website, what’s on or blogs.
Visual Cues Are icons used? Does the design stimulate the senses? (Lazaris, 2009; Matthews, 2009)	Yes Recognisable icons are used, such as Facebook, Twitter, WiFi, GPS locator. The design is visually appealing using a traditional grid format with lots of colour, photos and images. Although, the visual styling is more appealing on the homepage and more text-based on further links. However, this is still effective in taking users to areas of the website for further information.
Segmentation Is there separate content for different patron groups? Is the styling/text/fonts customised to each group? (Matthews, 2009)	Yes and No There is separate content for users, however, it is not customised for them. The Corner is the children’s space in the library and in reality is a bright, tailored made learning space for children and this is not portrayed by its link on the website.
Feedback Is there an opportunity for user feedback? Has the library posted official responses to user feedback? (Matthews, 2009)	Yes and No There are links to online forms for feedback. However, there is no opportunity on the website for user to post comments. Therefore, there is no avenue for the library to respond publicly. There are many blogs for the library with opportunity for user feedback, but not on the library website.
Redundancy Are there numerous ways for users to navigate the website? (Matthews, 2009)	Yes There are many hyperlinks included navigating users to other pages on the website.
User Interaction Is there an opportunity for users to interact through video/sound/ animation/games? (Lazaris, 2009)	No The only way for users to interact on the website is via hyperlinks to other webpages.
Easy Way to Ask for Help Is it easy to find the Ask the Librarian link? (Matthews, 2009)	No The ‘Ask a Librarian’ link is buried under the services tab on the homepage. It is recommended this be added to the search bar that appears on every page.
Inspiring Photos Have photos been used to highlight people and spotlight library spaces? Have the use of photos reduced clutter on the website? (Matthews, 2009)	No The use of photos is limited to the homepage. Other pages on the website would benefit greatly from the use of photos to engage users to visit the library. For example, The Corner is a very vibrant and interactive learning space for young children and there are no photos of this on the webpage.

The State Library of Queensland has a good base for a website. Evidence of Web 2.0 tools include social networking links, blogging links, federated searches and mashups. The homepage is the website's strength and is where most of the examples of Web 2.0 can be found. 

Opportunity presents itself for the State Library of Queensland to further embrace Web 2.0 tools and integrate them in all aspects of the webpage. With some minor modifications users should be further engaged with the website and play a more interactive role as contributors to it.

Some Web 2.0 additions to the SLQ webpage may include:

• search tag clouds (Governor, et.al, 2009)
• interactive games and applications suitable for children divided in to preschool, primary and secondary school students on The Corner’s webpage.
• Ask a Librarian comments posted and responded to.
• Podcasts and YouTube clips
• Applying features present on the homepage throughout the website to maintain user engagement.

Mathews, B. (2009). Web design matters: Ten essentials for any library site. Library Journal, (available in electronic full text from CSU library - http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library)

Governor, J., Hinchcliffe, D, & Nickull, D. (2009). Web 2.0 architectures (1st ed.). Sebastopol, Calif.: O’Reilly Media. [ebook] Available http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/9780596514433

Lazaris, L. (2009). Designing websites for kids: Trends and best practices, Smashing Magazine, (27 November). Retrieved from http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/11/27/designing-websites-for-kids-trends-and-best-practices/