Library web sites a content analysis Jadranka Stojanovski

Library web sites: a content analysis Jadranka Stojanovski Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia http: //library. irb. hr jadranka. stojanovski@irb. hr

outline • • library functions in the new environment library web sites - Why? general evaluation criteria Croatian library web space basic and critical content elements library web sites content analysis comparisions conclusion Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Traditional library functions in the new environment • information selection • information organization • access to the information Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Why evaluate? • QUANTITY • QUALITY • anyone can put anything up on the Internet • web resources rarely have editors and are not usually peer-reviewed • there are no web standards Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

web lacks • • • organization standards and governance quality control source information reliability and stability Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

web sites categories • • • reference / informational news entertainment business / marketing advocacy personal page Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

General criteria for evaluation • http: //info. lib. uh. edu/pr/v 8/n 3/smit 8 n 3. html • http: //www. washburn. edu/mabee/revie ws. html • http: //www. willamette. edu/webstation/ wviews/crit. html • http: //diogenes. baylor. edu/Library/LIRT /lirtcrit. html Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Authority • does the resource have some reputable organisation or expert behind it? • does the author have standing in the field? can the author be contacted? • are sources of information stated? • is the information verifiable? • URL clues!!! • if no source is given for the information, the author does not appear to be an authority on the subject Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Purpose / Audience • who and for what reasons will be using the library site? • is the purpose clearly stated (to inform, educate, etc. )? • are resources fulfilling the stated purpose? • who are intended users? Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Content / Relevance • authority • accuracy • currency • coverage • objectivity • uniqueness • links to other resources • quality of writing Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Organization • logical organization - easy navigation • navigation through the site should be intuitive, easy-to-understand easyto-survey • getting lost in the links! • user aids: link Back to homepage, Site Map, Search functions Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Design / Appearance • first impression • harmonization • appropriate use of colors, textures, images, etc. • attractiveness • length • distinctive character of the site Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Maintenance / Currency • Who will be responsible for the maintenance of a library site? • Is there a development and growth plan? • Is it necessary to establish a special protocol, rulebook etc. , which will define the authority and the maintenance of the site? Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Technology / Functionality / Usability • no additional programs • standard file formats • <ALT> tags have to provide an alternative text • required computing environment • "text only" version of the site • searching • interactivity • users with seeing and hearing difficulties Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Size of the Croatian web space Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

8 basic elements · general information; · contact information; · library’s online catalog; · library services description; · working hours; · news; · authority data; · the last update data; Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

General information - address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail - general information on the library, the area it covers, user profile it’s intended for, library’s mission (mission statement) - a note from a director/manager of the institution - working hours info, the holidays on which the library is closed - a part of a city map with instructions on how to get to the library (it is desirable to provide a bus or tram line) - library’s layout/blueprint (with a list of area, institution, or other related libraries) - a guide through the library, multimedia if possible (images, video, sound) - library’s staff, with job descriptions, telephone numbers, and email contact addresses, and possible links to home sites Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

General information - volunteering possibilities and conditions - special collections - library’s publications (annual reports, catalogs, recent acquisitions) - the history of the library and future plans - statistical data (lending, Web site access, etc. ) - friends of the library (donors, financiers, due individuals etc. , especially present in public libraries). Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Online catalogues (OPAC) - catalogs of the own collections of books, periodicals, and other library material; - the list of the current periodicals, unless the periodicals are already included in catalogs (especially important for academic and special libraries); - the bibliography of the works of its staff; - other libraries’ catalogs; - collective catalogs. Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Internet resources - electronic magazines, newspapers, books etc. ; - electronic text, articles preprint archives); archives (so-called - online databases; - projects associated with digital libraries; - various digital collections (images, numerical data, video etc). Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Internet resources • Electronic sources can additionally be divided according to: - topics, scientific field; - categories of users (children, young people, etc). • The electronic sources divided according to topics can grow into the so-called subject gateways. • The local information sources can also be added to this category: - regional electronic information sources (city, province, state); - government electronic information sources; - online exhibitions. Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Library services - acquisition – suggesting a new book, magazine, etc; - lending – local, possibility of reservation; - interlibrary loan; - electronic information supply; - Xeroxing; - microfilming; - special collections and the rules of usage; - questions related to intellectual copyrights; - the rules of usage of other libraries; - services related to the Document Supply Centers; - services for persons with disabilities; - providing e-mail (public libraries); - providing the Internet access Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Reference desk - the online reference collection (dictionaries, manuals, encyclopedia, address books, etc. ); - FAQ (frequently asked question) – on many levels, with various topics; - “Ask the librarian” (via e-mail, or appropriate forms). Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Education, instruction, help - instructions and help for using the library itself (links to the Library Services); - instructions and help for using the certain programs frequently used by users, such as Web browsers; - instructions on the library’s catalog browsing; - instructions on the online databases browsing; - instructions on the Internet browsing; - information sources evaluation elements; - instructions on citing the literature (on all media) in different formats; - introduction to computers; - learning and practicing materials, especially important for academic libraries (associated to the lesson plan and program); Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Searching - searching the library web site itself; - searching the entire (or parts of the) web. Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

News - the news associated with library holdings, e. g. data on the arrival of magazines, notices on access to a new magazine or database; - weakly schedule of lectures, library/institution happenings; seminars and other - interesting facts and news relevant for the users of a library (new electronic magazines, a new database, an interesting article etc. ); - what’s new in the library, e. g. a new area, new service, new materials; - what’s new on the web site (What’s New Page), with the possible changes on the web site (the most recent information are stated first) – it is desirable to put the link to this page on the site’s homepage! - the schedule of Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik happenings in a library, institution, region.

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Conclusions about Croatian web space • • early stage of web sites development lack of financies lack of staff lack of continuous education of librarians • lack of technical support • no English translation • offten false credibility (institutions!) Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Library web sites today (Brinkley, M. 1999) • • promotional tool information about the library services guides and help facilities gateway to information resources Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

Library web sites tomorrow • seamlessly integration of all functions and services • coherent “virtual” services • factors: – changing world of information – changing nature of library users Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik

The future library will have the same old goals • to provide access to the information, regardless of format, location, or subject; • to facilitate access, through guides, training, and the way information is organised; • to do so in an integrated manner such that services can be offered to users when and where they need them. Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik