Web Page Review

For my Web page review assignment, I looked at North Carolina State University libraries’ and Illinois Wesleyan University’s Ames Library’s Websites in order to gather ideas on how to improve Dominican University’s Rebecca Crown Library Website.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the Website for the North Carolina State University libraries is that the headings for all of the sections are differentiated by color.  This makes it really easy for patrons to find the correct link quickly.  Additionally, each of the headings is associated with a graphic (a magnifying glass for “Search the Collection” and an “i” for “Library Information,” for example).  This allows the user to scan the page to find what they’re looking for, rather than having to read each of the headings.

Illinois Wesleyan University’s Ames Library’s Website looks a lot like the Crown Library’s Website.  Both have main headings in two columns with lists of links below their respective headings.  One of the things I like about the Ames Library page is that the headings are a different color from the links listed below them.  Unfortunately, a picture separates the four main headings at the top of the page from “Quick Links” at the bottom of the page, forcing the user to scroll down to find “Quick Links.”  The Crown Library’s Website, on the other hand, has all of the headings (and their respective links) visible on one screen without having to scroll.  Not only that, but there are fewer links per heading, giving the page an uncluttered feel.  From that standpoint, the Crown Library’s Website is much more navigable than the Ames Library page.

Another feature that both the Ames Library and the Crown Library have in common is a Meebo interface directly on their homepage.  However, I like the placement of the interface on the Ames Library page better than on the Crown Library’s site.  It is obvious that chat reference is available from the moment the Ames Library page loads, whereas the user must scroll down to the bottom of the Crown Library’s page to find it.  I believe that the Crown Library can put it in the same place as the Ames Library without sacrificing any features.  The gold bar on the left side of the screen on the Crown University’s Website seems rather redundant to me.  If the main section of the page were longer I could see its use, but since all of the headings are visible on one screen, that navigation panel is unnecessary.  Replacing it with the Meebo interface would be a great idea.

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