Splash Pages: Judicious Use

[Kevin Nolan]

Perhaps you're right, perhaps using a big image is not the best way to display the info. This may not be the best example. But I think what I meant to point out is: if your library or university or organization decides to use a splash page it should be for the right reasons, and should serve some informative or instructive aim and not be used simply to showcase your Flash skills or interject a needless interruption to your users' experience. Anyway, that's what I tried to say. : ) 

--KN

----------------------------
A 200k GIF just to tell me that Homecoming is on October 28?  I don't
think that really passes muster as a useful page.  :-)

Thomas Dowling
OhioLINK - Ohio Library and Information Network
tdowling at ohiolink.edu


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Nolan" <nolan at adelphi.edu>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 12:26 PM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Splash Pages: Judicious Use


> Most Web people I know discourage the use of splash pages. I too think
they are for the most part unnecessary.
>
> That said, like any Web design component, if used properly and
judiciously, splash pages can be useful from an informational/content
point of view. The key is to not allow splash pages to serve a PR or
advertising function solely.
>
> Here is an example of a promotional use of a splash page that is at the
same time informative: www.stjohns.edu.
>
> >From a PR/advertising perspective: It allows prospective students to
"witness" what is going on at St. John's.
> >From an informational/content perspective: It informs the campus
community about a major University event.
>
> Libraries could of course do the same thing, i.e. promote major library
events or programs.
>
> Of course, a library or university needs to be choosy re: which events
are worthy of being promoted on the splash page. And that may result in
some serious internal political battles.
>