[WEB4LIB] ] RE: academic web administration

[Drew, Bill]

Several have asked me if my message was based on personal experience or
research.  The answer is yes to both (at least my interpretation of the
research).  Use of our website at SUNY Morrisville Library is higher now
than it ever was when we were linked on the very front of the college
website.  Looking at our logs, most users are not referred by other webpages
at our site are "direct requests".  This may mean someone accessing a
bookmark, has us set as the homepage, or typed in our address.  We have had
27,000 unique visitors since I reset the logs back in August 2000.  I think,
my own opinion based on my experiences, people find us because we provide
something they need.  Having a link on the first page may be good or best
for inTITLE exposure, but word of mouth and marketing efforts need to be
given greater prominence in the equation of use.

Bill Drew