-or- How You Gonna Keep ‘em Down on the Library’s Web Site?

The State of the State’s Kid Pages

The State of the State’s Kid Pages

The State of the State’s Kid Pages

Old Site

Why Redesign? Kids aren’t going to come to library site to go to the Internet With tools like Google, why use lengthy lists of links on library site? Time to maintain list of links better spent developing local content

Kids aren’t going to come to library site to go to the Internet

With tools like Google, why use lengthy lists of links on library site?

Time to maintain list of links better spent developing local content

Goals of the Redesign Keep kids on local site Highlight local events for kids Make it easy to find new library materials Make it “Kid Friendly”

Keep kids on local site

Highlight local events for kids

Make it easy to find new library materials

Make it “Kid Friendly”

Steps to Redesign Look at other sites Find examples of what you like and don’t like Don’t use clipart if possible Use bright colors Keep words to a minimum Incorporate library materials into site

Look at other sites

Find examples of what you like and don’t like

Don’t use clipart if possible

Use bright colors

Keep words to a minimum

Incorporate library materials into site

Inspiration

Redesign Philosophy KISS Inviting graphics Change info frequently Make the site interactive NOT busy

KISS

Inviting graphics

Change info frequently

Make the site interactive

NOT busy

Redesign Tools Web standards XHTML/HTML Cascading Style Sheets Javascript Graphics program Photoshop Elements Paint Shop Pro

Web standards

XHTML/HTML

Cascading Style Sheets

Javascript

Graphics program

Photoshop Elements

Paint Shop Pro

Redesigning on a Shoestring Learn basics of HTML & CSS Make friends with a talented graphic artist Use free “stuff” from others Be willing to work diligently on content

Learn basics of HTML & CSS

Make friends with a talented graphic artist

Use free “stuff” from others

Be willing to work diligently on content

Web Page Components Branding Graphics & Colors Games & Interactivity Book Reviews Events Homework Help and Parent/Teachers

Branding

Graphics & Colors

Games & Interactivity

Book Reviews

Events

Homework Help and Parent/Teachers

Branding Logo Site Address Mascot

Logo

Site Address

Mascot

Graphics & Color

Games & Interactivity

Games & Interactivity CSS hover buttons

Games & Interactivity Javascript word game highlighting Alliance

Games & Interactivity Tie-in to Dial a Story phone service with link to catalog and MP3 version

Book Reviews

Book Reviews Branding

Book Reviews Highlighting subscription service

Book Reviews Age-specific titles and book descriptions with book jackets and links to catalog record

Events

Events Branding

Events Age-specific events Events for all ages

Homework Help and Parent/Teachers

http://www. rodmanlibrary .com/kids

“ I basically knew [the fire safety house] was coming to the library because I saw an ad for it on my computer, on the library’s home page.” --Benjamin, 8-years old The Alliance Review , 6/21/2007

Future Directions Keep material fresh Change colors, add new graphics periodically Add more interactive content Student poems Short stories Book/Movie reviews (tie to catalog) Student artwork

Keep material fresh

Change colors, add new graphics periodically

Add more interactive content

Student poems

Short stories

Book/Movie reviews (tie to catalog)

Student artwork

If You Buy Only One Book…

Learning HTML and CSS By Elizabeth Castro By Eric Meyer

Free Tools for Non-Programmers Javascript Source http:// javascript .internet.com/ Google Gadgets http://www. google .com/ ig /directory

Javascript Source

http:// javascript .internet.com/

Google Gadgets

http://www. google .com/ ig /directory

Links to Web Sites Mentioned www. rodmanlibrary .com/kids www. tbpl .thunder-bay.on.ca/ kidszone /

www. rodmanlibrary .com/kids

www. tbpl .thunder-bay.on.ca/ kidszone /