1. Web site mechanics Winners and losers Computers in Libraries 2018 W3
Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author, and
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
Computers in Libraries 2018 W3
April 17, 2018

2. Session Summary 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
D105     Web Site Design Winners & Losers!
Jeff Wisniewski, Director, Web Services & Communications, University of Pittsburg
David Lee King, Digital Services Director, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Marshall Breeding, Independent Consultant, Library Technology Guides
We’ve all seen good and bad library web sites, but these library leaders from academic and public libraries choose several of each type, critique them, and help you understand what the most important features and functions are for making your library website as successful as it can be!

3. Winners and Losers Not from a design perspective
Observations from maintaining libraries.org
Technologies which may run counter to library values and strategies

4. Libraries.org

6. ILS data from libraries.org

8. Security and Privacy
Important to use https to protect the privacy of users
Data transmitted with http is not encrypted and can be intercepted
Browsers flag http sites as untrustworthy
Sites not using https are penalized in search results by Google (and other search engines)
Not enough to enable https, but must also redirect any http request to https

9. Browser privacy warning

10. Secure site verification

11. U.S. Academic Libraries

12. U.S. Public Libraries

13. URL Branding URLs are an important branding element
Expected domains for libraries:
.org
.gov
.us
Domains representing commercial organizations:
.com

14. Libraries operating under .com
Libraries which explicitly choose .com domain
Turnkey library portals:
TLC: “youseemore”
SpringShare
SirsiDynix Enterprise
Technically possible to use a turnkey, hosted portal product and maintain institutional URL

15. .com domain

16. TLC: youseemore

17. LibGuides: Web CMS

18. LibGuides: Web CMS

19. Other URL issues Keep it simple: Avoid filenames in root URL
Avoid filenames in root URL
Mylibrary.org/library/home.php

20. Other challenges
Difficulty in finding library from website of parent institution
Absence of info on key personnel, or:
Webforms for contact instead of addresses
Multiple required fields and captcha required to send a simple message
Limited number of characters in message
Messages bounced when sent
(Why not publish an attended address?)

21. General observations
Library websites vary from exceptional to mediocre
Technical underpinnings often weak
Slow performance
Insecure
Invalid coding
Not friendly for mobile use
Issues are concentrated on websites associated with small libraries
Lack of affordable solutions for libraries with very limited budgets and internal technical skills