World Wide Web Sites

Revised January 2003

General Comments

The library maintains a web site to highlight and promote the library with its wide variety of services and events as well offer some selected outbound links. Outbound links are selected to provide more current and esoteric material than what is available at the library or to enrich, broaden, and complement other library collections.

Promotion of the library and its services will be closely coordinated with the Public Relations office.

A Web Team will be assigned to regularly critique and review the library web site. The team will consist of the six Librarians/Library Managers, the Webmaster, the Public Information Specialist, and may include additional staff members as needed.

Development Plan

The library's web site will be developed with the following criteria in mind:

• visually appealing (clean and simple)
• well organized, easy to understand, use, and navigate
• quick loading time
• current and accurate information
• text that is grammatically correct with no spelling errors

Promotions of library services and events will be closely coordinated with the Public Relations office. Public Relations will provide the Web Master with copies of all promotional materials (i.e. PSA's, newsletters, graphics) so the web site reflects the same timely information and graphics.

Each library web page will be tested for accessibility by people with disabilities and must meet minimum specification for access.

Selected outbound links will be chosen using the following criteria:

• Sites should, in general, originate from the creating or responsible institution, not a third party.
• Sites should be current, preferably with an updated date statement and e-mail address available.
• Sites should not incur user fees.
• Sites should have limited or no advertising.
• Selected outbound link sites should meet all criteria as stated for the Library's web site.

Influencing Factors

• Informational, educational, and recreational needs of the community
• Usage statistics
• Changes in web technology

Retention/Weeding

• Each library web page will be tested in the two most common browsers (three most current versions) prior to publishing.
• The Web Team will meet monthly and review/critique assigned web pages to ensure they meet the criteria listed in the development plan.
• Outbound links will be regularly tested and removed when they no longer meet the criteria listed in the development plan.
• Each library web page will be tested for accessibility by people with disabilities and must meet minimum specifications for access.