1. Web site mechanics Winners and losers Computers in Libraries 2019
Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author, and
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
Computers in Libraries 2019
March 26, 2019

2. Winners and Losers Not from a design perspective
Observations from maintaining libraries.org
Focus on technologies which may run counter to library values and strategies
Key issues: Security/Privacy and Branding

3. Libraries.org

5. ILS data from libraries.org

7. 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

8. Browser privacy warning

9. Secure site verification

10. U.S. Academic Libraries (Mar 2018)

11. U.S. Academic Libraries (Oct 2018)

12. US Academic Libraries (Mar 2019)

13. U.S. Public Libraries (Mar 2018)

14. U.S. Public Libraries (Oct 2018)
No website link recorded (25)
Confirmed with no website (1005)

15. US Public Libraries March 2019

16. Advertising trackers

17. General observations
Library websites vary from exceptional to mediocre
Technical underpinnings often weak
Slow performance
Insecure
Invalid coding
Some 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

18. The Library is the Brand

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

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

24. Design trend
Should each library strive for unique design and presentation or Is it better for libraries to aim for consistency?

30. DYI or Managed Platform
Can libraries keep up with modern design and deployment strategies?
Multi-channel content delivery?
Self-contained repository of page content?
Trend toward no-code platforms in business arena (SquareSpace)
Examples of Managed Content Platforms for libraries (web presence + discovery)
Axiell Arena
Infor Iguana
BiblioCommons: BiblioWeb + BiblioCore
EBSCO Stacks
Communico Create
Library Market: Library Website