How to Fix the 25 Most Common Library Website Problems (December 2017)

1. 25 PROBLEMS
ON LIBRARY WEBSITES
(AND HOW TO FIX THEM)
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

2. http://oplin.ohio.gov

3. Humor, you haz it?

4. ANECDOTES

6. Laura’s Incredibly Subjective
Complexity Scale*
EASY
No big deal
MEH
Might need some
HTML/CSS knowledge
OY
Get a pro
*NOT PROPORTIONAL

7. Agenda
•Missing but not forgotten
•Everybody else got the memo
•Search headaches
•A major league you don’t want to be in
#libsite25

8. MISSINGBUT NOT FORGOTTEN
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

9. #25
Board of Trustees?

10. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3375.33v1

11. Add board member names to your library’s website.
Contact info and/or photos are nice but optional.

12. #24
No phone and/or address on homepage

13. Add the address and main phone number to the homepage,
either in the header or footer.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to shift things around to
these elements.

14. #23
No hours or hours link on homepage

15. Add the hours, either in full or as a conspicuous link.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to shift things around to
this element.

16. #22
No custom favicon

18. Create a custom favicon.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to add the metatag for
element. You may need basic graphic design skills to create the
image.

19. #21
No breadcrumb trails

21. If you’re not using a content management system with this
feature built in, you’re going to need a professional.
To create breadcrumb trails dynamically, you’ll need someone to
write some serious code.

22. EVERYBODY ELSE
GOT THE MEMO
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

23. #20
Using images as text

24. Replace images of text with actual text.
You may need some basic HTML/CSS to insert, position and
the text.

25. #19
Logos that don’t link to home

26. Make your library’s logo a link to the homepage.
You may need some basic HTML to add a link to your library’s
logo.

27. WARNING
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE DISTURBING
FOR SOME AUDIENCES.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

28. Logos, logos everywhere
#18

29. Do you really need ALL of those logos? Evaluate carefully.
You may need some basic HTML to remove these and/or add
some descriptive annotations.

30. Clip art
#17

31. Stop using clip art.
Even stock photography is a step up. But evaluate whether or
an added graphic really adds value, or just is a cutsey-add-on.

32. Problematic navigation
#16

33. Change the wording to intuitive terms.
People are task-driven on the web. See the webinar handout for
more info on better terms to use.

34. #15
Rotating banners (carousels)

35. Look, I know you won’t get rid of it, no matter what the data
says.
At least make sure that the images have alternative text
and that the carousel doesn’t auto-rotate.

36. #14
Fonts under 16 px

37. Make all text at least 16 pixels.
You may need some basic CSS to change font sizes.

38. #13
Huge flyer images

39. Just stop doing this!
You’re slowing your library’s site down, making it more
inaccessible to handicapped users and costing people more
money on mobile.

40. Staff-only links
#12

41. Get rid of the staff login link.
Buy a simple domain for your library’s intranet, have staff
bookmark it, whatever it takes. Get it off the site.

42. Unnecessary widgets
#11

43. Remove widgets that don’t provide real value to your patrons.
You may need some basic HTML to remove these kinds of items.

44. SEARCH
HEADACHES
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

45. #10
No search at all

46. #9
No search options

48. #8
More than one search

49. #7
Placeholder text

50. #6
Search in the wrong place

51. Chances are good that your library’s search feature has more
than one of these issues.
Most of these will likely require more major HTML/CSS
modifications and/or back-end scripting.

52. #5
Redundant links

53. #4
Poor contrast

54. Change the color of text and links and check with a contrast
tool.
You may need some basic CSS to change colors of text/link
elements.

55. MAJOR LEAGUE
PROBLEMS
#libsite25
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com

56. #3
Poor speed

58. There are so many different things that can cause a slow site.
Server configuration, scripts and script placement, images and
many more. Get a pro.

59. #2
Poor accessibility

60. Interpreting and correcting accessibility issues can be a major
undertaking.
Remember, Section 508 compliance is the bare minimum
Get a pro.

61. #1
Not responsive

63. This may likely require completely rebuilding your website…but
it will be worth it!
Consider using a CMS that has responsiveness built in, or
a professional.

64. We know…

65. QUESTIONS?
http://designforthelittleguy.com/libsite25.pdf
Laura Solomon @laurasolomon laura@designforthelittleguy.com