A library website is a great way to share information about your library and services. Many libraries use their website to help provide patrons with access to their online catalog or to share information about upcoming events and programs. Some libraries even treat their website like an online branch.
The documents in this section will help you figure out how to best plan and implement a website, avoid common mistakes, and discover new methods or tools. The discussions in this section can connect you with other library staff working on library websites. And if your library has a success story about implementing a new site or revising an old one, please don't forget to share that experience on WebJunction. You are encouraged to contribute documents, checklists, links, or anything else that might help other libraries succeed with their own websites.
Guide to Web Design & Development Resources
Planning Your Website
Design, Usability, Accessibility
Website Implementation
Connect With Your Community Using Web 2.0
Specific Web 2.0 Applications to Use
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Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century
Archive and related resources from September 15, 2009 webinar with David Lee King on Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century.
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What Is a Digital Branch, Anyway?
A chapter from Library Technology Reports that introduces the concept of a digital branch and outlines the phases of developing and maintaining the library's web presence.
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Virtual Bulletin Board Example
Director of the Lake Villa Library District (IL) shares about the Community Hub area of the library's website.
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Introduction to LibX
Introduction to LibX (libx.org), a browser extension for Firefox and IE that better integrates library resources into the online research experience.
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Designing the Digital Experience: What is Community?
An excerpt from Designing the Digital Experience: how to use experience design tools and techniques to build websites customers love (Chapter 5 - What is Community?), by David Lee King. Attached PDF includes images. Reprinted with permission.
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Open Source Library Website Initiatives
This article provides descriptions and links to a few open source "free website" initiatives for libraries.
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LITA Slides: Designing for Participation (WJ development process)
These slides are from Chrystie Hill and Tim King's LITA08 presentation on designing for participation.
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Visual Design: Theory & Best Practices for Library Websites Webinar
View the archived webinar, additional resources, and a link to a post-webinar discussion.
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Suggestions needed for open source CMS/Intranet options and instruction
WJ Member Kelley Beeson is looking for suggestions for getting up to speed on Drupal. We've expanded the question in hopes to hear what open source solutions folks are using for a staff intranet or for their public websites.
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Library Website Content Editing
How my library's site is currently set up to allow any staff member to edit content.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Website Development
A list of external links.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Web Site Development
A list of external links.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Web Site Development
A list of external links.
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WebJunction Pathfinder: Website Design & Development
Start here for help designing, maintaining, and developing your library's website.
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So You Want to Build a Wiki?
Ready to build a library wiki? Here's a list of points to consider as you evaluate how to proceed.
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Keeping Your Website Fresh
Keeping your website up-to-date is essential to fostering an online community centered on your library, and new tools can help.
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Every Pixel Tells a Story: The Illinois Digital Archives
Through the Illinois Digital Archives the Illinois State library works with libraries, museums, and historical societies to provide a statewide searchable repository of materials related to Illinois history.
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Community History Goes Digital
A recording of the online workshop on digitizing community history collections. Stuart Hinds, Web Content Developer for the Johnson County Library (KS), gives an overview of the digitization process, insights into what works, and lessons learned, followed by a rich question and comment session with the live audience. Size: ~6 MB
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Thinking Big: Richmond Public Library's Web Site (December 2003)
Library Web sites can be ordinary, okay, acceptable--or they can be visionary, inspiring, and brilliantly successful. The Richmond (BC) Public Library's site is emphatically in the latter camp.
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Easy Steps to Creating a Blog
Looking to create a low-maintenance, easily updated web site? In a few minutes you can have a blog up and running, and it might just do the trick.
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Implement your Web Site
How to manage the creation of your new library Web site.
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Planning Your Web Site
Find out the benefits of creating a Web site for your library.
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Why the Web?
Maybe you think your library should have a Web site, but you're not sure. This story stacks up all the reasons why a Web site would benefit your library.
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Start a Blog in Five Minutes
A blog can be an easy way to start a library web site or enrich the one you've got. Lori Bell of the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center walks you through the process.
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Firefox Search Plugins: Searching Your Library in the Browser
If you'd like to enable your patrons to search your library's website from Firefox's Search bar, Michael Sauers gives you the step-by-step instructions. Technical, but not intimidating--give it a try!
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Reader's Advisory Services on Library Web Sites
This chapter from "Library Web Sites: Creating Online Collections and Services" shows how libraries can provide online reader's advisory services.
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Usability Testing for Library Web Sites: An Example
This chapter from "Usability Testing for Library Web Sites: A Hands-On Guide" provides a step-by-step walk-though of the usability testing process.
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The Impact of Digital Community Information on Public Library Websites
This chapter from "Online Community Information: Creating a Nexus at Your Library" explores the value of digital community information for public library web sites and reference services.
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New Mexico News Plus
A New Mexico State Library project to make local libraries a nexus for access to federal news and information.
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Using Wikis to Create Online Communities
Wikis open up new possibilities for collaboration between you and your patrons. Blogger and WJ guest editor Meredith Farkas tells why wikis should matter to you and your library.
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Sample Survey
This is a sample user survey for the re-design of a library website.
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Sample Usability Report
Download this sample PDF report to gather and publish the results of Web site usability tests.
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Who Will Find Your Site?
You have created a fabulous site. Now you need to market it. Read this story for tips on how to get your site noticed.
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Web Development Worksheet
Are you thinking about creating a Web site for your library? Have a look at this tip sheet.
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Avoid Bad Web Design
Find out the right way to use text, images, animations, and other elements on your Web site.
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Managing Web Sites (ARCHIVE)
Web management is more than half the job of a Web site. This handout talks about the management tools you can use in Microsoft FrontPage.
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FrontPage Fact Sheet (ARCHIVE)
If you want to build a Web site using Microsoft FrontPage, have a look at this valuable handout. It gives you the lowdown on FrontPage and FrontPage server extensions.
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Sites to Post a Free Web Site
This handout is considered out of date, so has been removed from the active collection.
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Creating Your Own Web Site (ARCHIVE)
This handout is designed for use on Gates-granted computers and can be used to help you figure out how to design your own web site using FrontPage.
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Usability
This handout describes the notion of design usability, and is used in 'WebJunction's Designing a Library Web Site' online course.
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Web Site Publishing Checklist
You've created your Web site, and you think you are ready to publish for all the world to see. Not quite. Here are some final checkpoints to make before you publish.
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Writing for the Wired World
Learn how to write effectively for the Web. Darlene Fichter of the University of Saskatchewan Libraries prepared this practical how-to manual in PDF format. Included are examples, tips, exercises, and resources to help improve your Web writing.
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Setting up Custom Toolbars in FrontPage 2000 (ARCHIVE)
Want to add functionality to FrontPage 2000? Setting up custom toolbar buttons allows you quick access to the commands you use the most.
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Planning Your Web Site Through Storyboarding
Storyboards are ways to outline the different topics or pages that you anticipate on your site. Using note cards, you can brainstorm topics, ways to group your information and how to link from one page to another.
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