[Web4lib] Is a new browser window always a no-no?

[S. O'Connor]

If kids are putting books on hold, then it is probably a good idea 
not to have a second window as they use the Back button a lot. We 
used to have a second window come up for just your reasons but when 
we redesigned our site, we got rid of the second window and have had 
no complaints.
And isn't it likely that parents will look at the booktitle, click 
the link to the catalogue, put the book on hold, then go back?
The other question of course, is, what do you do in the rest of your 
website? You want to maintain consistancy.
Sheilah O'Connor
http://kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca

At 02:07 PM 3/19/2008, Rachel Davis wrote:

>Thanks to all who have helped me with the target link attribute question I
>posted earlier.
>
>In the process of learning how to target links to always open in the same
>browser window (naming the new window, instead of using target ="
>_blank"), I am also learning that opening links in a new window is
>considered one of the "top ten mistakes of web design," unless the link is
>to a document or a large image.   I am wondering what the general opinion
>is about book lists that link to catalog records (which is what I'm
>working on.)
>
>Our staff frequently gets requests for books that I read at story time, or
>books that are recommended for reading aloud to groups of young children.
>I am including a page on our site to story time books I have read
>organized by theme, with each title linking to its record in the OPAC.  I
>don't have the ability to edit the OPAC to provide a link back to the
>library webpage.  I know users can always use the back button, but I would
>think it would be more annoying to lose the library site--and the book
>list the user was looking at--than to have a new window pop up showing the
>book's record in the OPAC so it can be requested.
>
>If I click on a book title and find I am now in the OPAC, and then I
>request the book, I have to go through several steps in order to return to
>the library website and the list of books--it's not as simple as just
>hitting the back button once to return to the site.  It would seem
>preferable to engage in the activity of placing a request in a separate
>window so that the original book list is readily available in the original
>window if I want to refer to it, request another title, or go to a
>different page in the library's website.
>
>So, in the case of links to catalog records in book lists like this, do
>others feel a new browser window is justified, or is it better to require
>the user to use the back button in order to return, eventually, to the
>library web page?
>
>Thanks for your advice!
>
>Rachel
>
>Rachel Q. Davis
>Children's Librarian
>Thomas Memorial Library
>6 Scott Dyer Road
>Cape Elizabeth, ME  04107
>207-799-1720
>
>
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