Designing Web Interfaces to Library Services and Resources / Edition 1

by Kristen L. Garlock, Sherry Piontek

Overview

Bestselling authors and JSTOR librarians Kristen Garlock and Sherry Piontek explain current interface design techniques and inspire librarians with specific examples demonstrating the potential of new Web technologies. Drawing on their years of experience, the authors describe the common characteristics of the best library Web sites.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838907429
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	01/28/1999
Series:	ALA Editions Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.54(w) x 11.01(h) x 0.28(d)

Editorial Reviews

This book is intended for librarians ready to move beyond basic HTML and create attractive yet content-rich web interfaces for library services. Garlock and Piontek, the user services coordinators of the JSTOR electronic publishing project and authors of Building the Service-Based Library Web Site (Professional Media, LJ 5/15/96), offer information on web interface content, aesthetics, accessibility, usability, and user feedback. In the first chapter, they provide an overview of web interface design for libraries. Chapter 2 outlines issues of content, such as format, access, delivery, user assistance, and services. Chapter 3 presents the graphic design aspects of using colors on the web. Chapter 4, on page layout, gives examples and suggestions for using tables and frames as design tools and using navigational aids such as toolbars and pop-up menus. Chapter 5 is concerned with accessible design, perhaps the most important topic for librarians. It outlines techniques for making the library web interface accessible to users with disabilities. Chapter 6 discusses gathering user feedback using online forms and/or web statistics. Chapter 7 attempts to "Look Ahead" but only from the perspective of a librarian unfamiliar with current web technologies such as Adobe Acrobat PDF files and JavaScript. The authors illustrate their text with numerous examples of good web interface designs, screen images, and web addresses. The appendix lists online resources for topics covered in the chapters. Most library services appropriate for online display are represented. However, interlibrary loan and library/Internet instruction are absent. This book is not to be mistaken for an HTML manual; rather, it is recommended as a companion book or as a follow-up guide for any librarian comfortable with HTML but not well versed in the web interface design issues presented here.--Robert Battenfeld, Long Island Univ.-Southampton Coll. Lib., NY Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

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