Find out how to make one of your most time consuming tasks easier.
For the modern librarian upkeep of the library's website can be a stressful, tiring job. Eric H. Schnell, Assistant Professor, Head of Information Technology at Prior Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University, has come to the rescue. Schnell has come to the rescue with:
Writing for the Web: A Primer for Librarians
Schnell's abstract describes the site as:
The most time consuming aspects of managing a library Web service are the creation and maintenance of site documents and assets. Although the organizational structure and contents of a Web site varies from library to library, participants in all library Web projects need to be familiar with the concepts and terminology associated with creating documents and resources for the Web.
This document is not an in-depth HTML guide, but is instead a general introduction to Web content creation. Newer technologies are briefly described and references to other resources are provided. This is also an interactive document and provides the reader access to associated resources.
The site is easy to navigate and global in its approach. If you are in charge of your library or school webpage start with this primer. Professor Schnell is very generous in allowing others to use his work. Please check the copyright information on the bottom right of the main page.
If you feel more comfortable in having a guide for developing your library website these books will provide the framework you seek:
Usability Testing for Library Websites: A Hands-On Guide
It's great to have a webpage, but it does no good if your patrons cannot use it. How user friendly is your site? Four goals are explored in improving library sites: usefulness, effectiveness, learnability, and user satisfaction.
Weaving a Library Web: A Guide to Developing Children's Websites
Young people approach websites differently than most adults. The topics and issues involved in designing, implementing, and maintaining Web sites for children are addressed in real world situations.
