I think this could be a matter of branding. On the Cambridge site referred
to the most recognisable brand is Google, the second most recognisable is
the Cambridgeshire logo (although it's very small), and the other options
are identified with bland airport type signs. Users scan pages rather than
read lists of options, and the scanning eye jumps to the familiar before the
rest.
I found the Medway site friendlier than the others mentioned in this thread,
because its categories were better chosen, and I only have to scroll down
the page to get to a link to an actual site. Most sites, including the IIS
site, expect us to link to a very broad category, then give us another set
of categories instead of links to sites.
These remarks are in a personal capacity and do not represent the views of
Worcestershire County Council.
John Stafford BA MCLIP
Worcester Community Library Manager
Worcestershire County Council
City Library
Foregate Street
Worcester
WR1 1DT
01905 765311
Fax 01905 726664
[log in to unmask]
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Day Robert [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 9:38 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
>
> Just as an aside on this topic (gateways to the internet) I recently set
> up
> some logging on our PN machines. We have 8 top level headings for content
> including our own Internet Gateway - see the page here
> (http://netwn1.camcnty.gov.uk/pnpublic/index.htm - you will get javascript
> errors but ignore them - bear in mind it is graphics heavy for 2 reasons
> 1)
> broadband to each library 2) consistency with our shell replacement
> program)Every click through from this page (which is the default page
> after
> agreeing to our terms and conditions of use) is logged to see what options
> are popular. Google search is so far ahead (something like 20* the hit
> rate
> of its closest rival) of the other options that it could be argued that
> our
> internet users do not want to be guided by librarians ideas of a quality
> site - they know what they are looking for and go to Google to get it.
> Note
> I am not making that claim but someone else looking at the figures might
> well do so. The logging does not pick up addresses entered directly into
> the
> address bar so there may well be even more people going off on their own
> way.
>
> Robert Day
> ICT Manager
> Cambridgeshire Libraries
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Goddard, Chris (LIFELONG LEARNING)
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 09 July 2003 09:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
>
>
> Mark wrote:
>
> > Something along the lines of the excellent American website www.lii.org
> ?
>
> Which is paid for by the Institute of Museum and Library Services - "a
> federal grant-making agency that promotes leadership, innovation, and a
> lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's museums and libraries."
>
> Sounds familiar...
>
> Chris
>
> --
> Chris Goddard
> Resources & Information Manager
> Plymouth Library Services
> Tel/fax: (01752) 305900
>
> Visit us on the Web:
> www.plymouthlibraries.info
>
> The views expressed in this message are personal and must not be
> considered
> to be the official views of Plymouth City Council
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