Library web sites: a content analysis Jadranka Stojanovski Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik 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 html ws.html wviews/crit.html /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 and easy- to-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 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 (currency);

Jadranka Stojanovski, LIDA 2001, Dubrovnik General information -address, telephone and fax numbers, -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 e- mail 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

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

Internet resources -electronic magazines, newspapers, books etc.; -electronic text, articles archives (so-called preprint archives); -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

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 (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 , or appropriate forms).

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, seminars and other library/institution happenings; -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 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.