Number 5 • Edition 2 • 2007 Subscribe, View PDF Welcome Introductory Comments Matching the System and User Activities Organize your site based on users' tasks and their frequency Make your website search clear and offer it on your homepage Do not use librarian terminology Ensure good performance Flexibility and Efficiency of Use Organize information in multiple ways Organize information by type of material, subject and course Crosslink information when possible Minimize the number of clicks users must make Explain details to help users select and access resources Orientation and Navigation Link to your library website directly from your institution's homepage Use consistent navigation Page Layout Use page real estate wisely Hypertext and Linking Treat links according to conventions Consistency Provide a help link on every page Use consistent design elements Aesthetics and Graphics Use few colors and minimal graphics Accessibility Make your site accessible Usability Testing Test your site for usability Ask UCD Ask UCD References References Recommended Resources Recommended Resources Contact Information Author and Editor CHRIS JASEK Elsevier User Centered Design Group Manager Produced by Library Connect, in collaboration with the Elsevier User Centered Design Group Library Connect Editorial Office ELSEVIER 525 B Street, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA 92101, USA Phone: (+1) 619.699.6283 libraryconnect@elsevier.com

Use page real estate wisely

Make sure the main content of each page on your website gets as much real estate as possible. Try to minimize the amount of space the site’s logo and navigation bar occupy on the top of the pages, so users can see more of each page’s main content without scrolling. The University of Toronto Libraries keep their site’s navigation area comparatively small, allowing more space for each page’s main content.

Hypertext and Linking

Treat links according to conventions

Underline links or put them in a color that is different from any other text on your website. Also be sure to use a different color to indicate links users have visited. Following these conventions helps users identify clickable links and any already visited. Keep the color for clickable links consistent throughout your site, and keep the color for visited links consistent throughout your site.

^ Library Connect Home  |  << First  |  < Previous  |  Next >  |  Last >>