how to fix the 25 most common library website problems (december 2017)
TRANSCRIPT
25 PROBLEMS ON LIBRARY WEBSITES
(AND HOW TO FIX THEM)
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon [email protected]
Humor, you haz it?
ANECDOTES
Laura’s Incredibly SubjectiveComplexity Scale*
EASYNo big deal
MEHMight need some
HTML/CSS knowledge
OYGet a pro
*NOT PROPORTIONAL
Agenda
•Missing but not forgotten
•Everybody else got the memo
•Search headaches
•A major league you don’t want to be in
#libsite25
#25
Board of Trustees?
Add board member names to your library’s website.
Contact info and/or photos are nice but optional.
#24
No phone and/or address on homepage
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 these elements.
#23
No hours or hours link on homepage
Add the hours, either in full or as a conspicuous link.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to shift things around to this element.
#22
No custom favicon
Create a custom favicon.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to add the metatag for element. You may need basic graphic design skills to create the
image.
#21
No breadcrumb trails
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.
#20
Using images as text
Replace images of text with actual text.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to insert, position and the text.
#19
Logos that don’t link to home
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.
WARNINGTHE FOLLOWING MAY BE DISTURBING
FOR SOME AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Logos, logos everywhere
#18
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.
Clip art
#17
Stop using clip art.
Even stock photography is a step up. But evaluate whether or an added graphic really adds value, or just is a cutsey-add-on.
Problematic navigation
#16
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.
#15
Rotating banners (carousels)
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 and that the carousel doesn’t auto-rotate.
#14
Fonts under 16 px
Make all text at least 16 pixels.
You may need some basic CSS to change font sizes.
#13
Huge flyer images
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.
Staff-only links
#12
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.
Unnecessary widgets
#11
Remove widgets that don’t provide real value to your patrons.
You may need some basic HTML to remove these kinds of items.
#10
No search at all
#9
No search options
#8
More than one search
#7
Placeholder text
#6
Search in the wrong place
Chances are good that your library’s search feature has more than one of these issues.
Most of these will likely require more major HTML/CSS modifications and/or back-end scripting.
#5
Redundant links
#4
Poor contrast
Change the color of text and links and check with a contrast tool.
You may need some basic CSS to change colors of text/link elements.
#3
Poor speed
There are so many different things that can cause a slow site.
Server configuration, scripts and script placement, images and many more. Get a pro.
#2
Poor accessibility
Interpreting and correcting accessibility issues can be a major undertaking.
Remember, Section 508 compliance is the bare minimumGet a pro.
#1
Not responsive
This may likely require completely rebuilding your website…but it will be worth it!
Consider using a CMS that has responsiveness built in, or a professional.
We know…
QUESTIONS?
http://designforthelittleguy.com/libsite25.pdf
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon [email protected]