[WEB4LIB] Re: Library "Splash" pages

[Jerry Kuntz]

And in the other corner from Jakob Nielsen, there's David Siegel of Creating
Killer Web Site fame, who must take some credit (or roast in hell) for the
number of splash pages out there.
Somewhere in the middle someone might point out that web pages are created
for very different purposes, with very different viewer experiences in mind.
If you intent is to inform, then "splash screens must die" is probably the
right approach. If your intent is to create a setting, mood, or style--like
the opening of a movie--then splash screens may work.
I used a splash screen on a fan site I did for reculsive fantasy author
Barry Hughart--would never think about using one on a library website.
Jerry Kuntz
Ramapo Catskill Library System
jkuntz at rcls.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Wildin" <Nancy.Wildin at spl.org>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 11:26 AM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Library "Splash" pages


> Tami,
> I think you'll get pretty wide spread agreement with "splash pages must
die."  They irritate way more than help.    Kevin's reference to placing the
identity and logo on EVERY page is so important,  and I can't believe how
many sites still ignore that.  Doesn't have to be huge, just very visible.
>
> Nancy Wildin
> Seattle Public Library
>
> >>> "Kevin W. Bishop" <bishopk at rpi.edu> 09/15/00 08:08AM >>>
>
> Hi Tami,
>
> Although ultimately it may not be your decision, I just wanted to point
out
> that users tend to despise splash pages and prefer to get straight to the
> information they've come for in the first place.  (And perhaps this is
> particularly true with library sites?)
>
> Jakob Nielsen's latest publication, _Designing Web Usability_, addresses
> this issue directly in chapter 4:
>
> 4. Site Design
>
>        The Home Page
>        How Wide Should the Page Be?
>             Home Page Width
> ->   Splash Screens Must Die
>        The Home Page Versus Interior Pages
>             Deep Linking
>             Affiliates Programs
>
> See: http://www.useit.com/jakob/webusability/
>
> Instead, JN suggests:  "1.Place your name and logo on every page and make
> the logo a link to the home page (except on the home page itself, where
the
> logo should not be a link: never have a link that points right back to the
> current page)."
>
>
>
> -kb
>
>
> At 07:42 AM 9/15/00 -0700, you wrote:
> >Our college is for the first time (believe it or not) implementing a
theme
> >throughout the college site.  Of course, our library has its own look and
> >feel, with its own "home page".  Now, however, development would like to
> >implement the college theme with a "splash" page for the library.  I came
> >across one site one time but I don't remember whose it was, that had a
> >college or university splash page and a link that said "connect to the
> >library's home page here".  I am looking at similar sites.  Please
respond
> >to me with urls of sites that have similar structures to this or other
> >with any other ways of dealing with a college design theme, leading into
a
> >separate library theme.  Thanks.
> >
> >--
> >Tami-Jo Eckley
> >Electronic Services & Media Librarian
> >Manhattanville College Library
> >Purchase, New York 10577
> >http://www.mville.edu/library
> >______________________________________
> >
> >--
>
> _________________________________________
> Kevin W. Bishop, Campus-Wide Info. Sys. Coord.
> Libraries and Information Services
> Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
> <bishopk at rpi.edu> | <http://www.rpi.edu/rpinfo/>
>
>