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

[Araby Y Greene]

In book lists with links to the library catalog, the user may want to
look at many items. I think that opening a reusable window that grabs
focus requires much less effort than going back and forth repeatedly.
Several months ago, when I made "new books" pages for our library, I
faced the same question. It was pretty obvious, after seeing it both
ways, that displaying the catalog records in a resizable window that
always reappears on top was the simplest for the user. In this
situation, it's better to keep the list available than follow the "rule"
and inconvenience the user. Our new books list is at
http://www.library.unr.edu/new/newbooks.aspx   Nevada has had a budget
crunch, so unfortunately, the new books list is pretty short at the
moment. 

Araby

__________________________
Araby Greene
Web Development Librarian
Getchell Library/322
University of Nevada, Reno
http://www.library.unr.edu/

araby at unr.edu 
775.682.5678

     /|
  \'o.O'
  =(___)=
    U
ACK! THPTPHH!


 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Rachel Davis
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 12:08 PM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Web4lib] Is a new browser window always a no-no?
> 
> 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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