EXTREME MAKE-OVER…tricks, treats & tips to keep in your toolkit to take your web site from mess to success...
October 17, 2011Tips on Redesigning Library SitesInternet Librarian, Monterey, CaliforniaAmanda Foust [email protected] Anna Jonsson [email protected] Magnus [email protected]
Marin County Free Library
DAWN OF THE LIBRARY WEB PRESENCEAUGUST 23, 1996
EARLY WEBSITE NAVIGATIONJANUARY 15, 1997
CONSORTIUM WEBSITEOCTOBER,1997
LIBRARY WEBSITE: DESIGN CHANGESOCTOBER 7, 1997
LIBRARY LANDING SITEJANUARY 11, 1998
LIBRARY HOME PAGEFEBRUARY 8, 1998
BRANCH PAGE EXAMPLEDECEMBER 5, 1998
LIBRARY WEBSITE: NEW LOGOOCTOBER 5, 2000
LIBRARY SITE: NOW IN COUNTY WEB SITENOVEMBER 21, 2001
LIBRARY SITE: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTSOCTOBER 10, 2002
LIBRARY REFERENCE LINKSOCTOBER 1, 2002
MORE DESIGN CHANGESJUNE 20, 2003
NEW DESIGN FOCUS ON GRAPHIC LINKSFEBRUARY 5, 2005
LIBRARY SITE: NEW TABBED DESIGNSEPTEMBER 29, 2007
TAB LAY-OUT NAVIGATION SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
TAB REDESIGNFEBRUARY 25, 2009
LIBRARY LEAVES COUNTY SITEAUGUST 4, 2009
REDIRECT TO NEW URL2009
NEW HOME PAGE “EVOLVING”AUGUST 5, 2009
HOME PAGE: VISUAL CLUTTERAPRIL 26, 2011
PREPARING FOR THE NEW WEBSITE Vendor & Software Selection Web steering Committee Use types – know your audience Page editors Plan for new content Strategic planning Feedback channels Design Lay-out using Wireframes Logo changes Tracking spreadsheets for content creation Google Docs account for sharing content Usability testing
IF WE KNEW THEN…. Designate a project manager and a task manager Know your library’s culture—get buy-in Clearly communicate expectations to staff—stay
positive Ask vendor for examples of projects with similar
budget Ask vendor for specifics on what library staff will be
expected to complete Plan for workload impact on staff Keep detailed list of things to check, problems Use spreadsheets to track content Encourage staff to think creatively about content;
have content in mind before start of project
WEB SITE TIMELINE: PAGE 1 OF 5
LAY-OUT & DESIGN USING WIREFRAMES
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WIREFRAMES USING MOCKINGBIRD
BRANCH PAGE MOCK-UP USING WIREFRAMES
TRACK CONTENT DEADLINES ON SPREADSHEET
TEEN CONTENT
INCLUDE PROOFREADING
STAFF UPLOADED CONTENT USINGGOOGLE DOCS
SOCIAL MEDIA CHEAT SHEETS FOR STAFF
CHEAT SHEET FOR PHOTOS
CREATE TOOLKITS FORFLICKR & YOUTUBE
CREATE TOOLKITS FOR TWITTER, BLOGS– ALL SOCIAL MEDIA
NEW WEB SITE LAUNCHES 11/1/11
• Dynamic & interactive– carousel displays, navigation, bread crumbs
• Appealing colors and photos, use of high-quality images (some purchased stock images)
• Site search enabled• New & improved tabs• Events & calendar highlight library outreach• Incorporation of social media, with new staff blogs, &
library Twitter, FaceBook, Flickr & YouTube accounts• Digital download explosion• New logo• Web standard formatting, e.g. footer links, account
log-in placement, font size options, about us
Amanda Foust, Electronic Services [email protected](415) 499-7451
Julie Magnus, Acting Branch [email protected](415) 924-6444
Anna Jonsson, Library Assistant [email protected](415) 897-1141
How to get in touch with us at MCFL