[WEB4LIB] re: home page content

[Robin Boulton]

We are a public library. Our web site has been greatly improved over the
last two years although I’m certain there’s room for a lot of improvement
yet (and probably always will be!) Anyway, our home page may be of interest
to you; the content has settled down pretty much over the last few months so
I think all concerned groups are now reasonably satisfied with what we
have/how we can access it. 

http://www.stcharleslibrary.org/ 

The appearance, although much more professional than it was a few years ago,
is our current best compromise between form and function; we will be making
some cosmetic changes (better buttons, etc.) in the fairly near future. 
HTH,
Robin.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]
> On Behalf Of Elena OMalley
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 3:35 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] re: home page content
> 
> Craig,
> 
> If you haven't already done so, you may want to post this question to
> PUBLIB as well.
> http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/PubLib/
> 
> I work at an academic library, so this information may not be a great
> match for your
> users' needs.
> 
> The most popular link on our homepage, by a wide margin, is our catalog.
> Our link
> is called "library catalog."
> 
> Our research databases and information about them, our media department,
> and our hours
> and calendar are also popular (based on web stat analysis). If we had
> proper space for
> the hours on the homepage, we'd put them there. Links from our "what's
> new", spotlight,
> and quick links (popular pages or links) are also frequently used.
> 
> I wouldn't go so far as 'must', but I'd personally do my best to juggle in
> a link to the catalog, address(es) and phone number(s)/TTY (circulation
> and reference),
> hours and events (or links to them), and a link to children/teen/homework
> help services.
> 
> Good luck with your project,
> Elena O'Malley
> __
> Elena O'Malley, Head of Library Computer and Internet Services
> Emerson College Library, Boston, MA 02116
> 
> > Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 15:27:59 -0400
> > From: "Ginther, Craig" <Craig.Ginther at library.ottawa.on.ca>
> > To: "'web4lib at webjunction.org'" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
> > Subject: home page content
> > Message-ID: <3B01F65FA1F0D511955500508BB44D0606FA438F at DC2EXC002>
> >
> > We're starting to look at a website redesign, and I'd like to draw on
> the
> > expertise of this group as a first step.  Are there certain types of
> > information that you feel must be displayed on the 'home' page?  I'm
> > thinking of things like branch locations, a link to the catalogue (or a
> > quick search box) and databases, information on how to get a library
> card,
> > fees/fines, etc.
> >
> > Are there others that you feel are critical, based on hit counts or
> > otherwise?  Any help would be greatly appreciated...
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Craig
> >
> > Craig Ginther
> > Coordinator (Acting), Virtual Library Services
> > Ottawa Public Library/Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa
> > 101 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 5K7
> > Phone: 613-580-2424 X41588
> > craig.ginther at library.ottawa.on.ca/
> > http://www.library.ottawa.on.ca/
>