Weaving a library Web : a guide to developing children's websites

209 Pages·2004·3.573 MB·English

by  Helene Blowers, Robin Bryan

Weaving a
Library Web
A Guide to
Developing
Children’s
Websites
HELENE BLOWERS
ROBIN BRYAN
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Chicago 2004
While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing
in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or
reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability
to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication.
Composition by ALA Editions in ITC Legacy Sans and Galliard using Quark XPress
5.0 on a PC Platform
Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in 10-point coated
cover stock by McNaughton & Gunn
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. (cid:1)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Blowers, Helene.
Weaving a library Web : a guide to developing children's websites / by Helene
Blowers and Robin Bryan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8389-0877-2 (alk. paper)
1. Internet in children's libraries. 2. Library Web sites––Design. 3. Children's
Web sites––Design. I. Bryan, Robin. II. Title.
Z718.1.B55 2004
025.04––dc22 2004001806
Copyright © 2004 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except
those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act
of 1976.
Printed in the United States of America
08 07 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 1
C O N T E N T S
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
INTRODUCTION xiii
1 Kids and the Internet 1
Our World 3
Readers’ Advisory 6
Homework Assistance and Reference Help 6
Programming 7
Outreach Services 8
Their World 9
2 Model Library Websites for Children 13
Outreach 14
Traditional Outreach 14
Outreach to Special Populations 15
Outreach Partnerships 18
Programming 22
Readers’ Advisory 34
Book Lists 34
Reviews 37
Homework Assistance 43
Web Directories 44
Portals 46
Pathfinders 50
Tutorials 51
E-mail Reference 54
iii
iv Contents
Virtual Reference 56
Live Homework Help 56
3 Guidelines for Engaging Young Users 58
Designing for Kids 60
Pre-readers (3- to 5-Year-Olds) 61
Beginning Readers (5- to 8-Year-Olds) 61
Intermediate Readers (9- to 12-Year-Olds) 62
Young Adults (13- to 17-Year-Olds) 62
Content Guidelines 63
Start out Simple 63
Focus on Content 64
Identify Your Audience 65
Tap into Children’s Natural Curiosity 67
Be Fresh and Current 68
Engage with Interaction 70
Create Comfort 71
Navigation Guidelines 75
Keep the Structure and Layout Simple 76
Let Children Know Where They Are 77
Consider a Search Feature 79
Do Not Mess with the Browser 80
Multimedia Guidelines 81
Provide Download Information 82
Keep Introductions Short 82
Provide Children with Control 82
Use Passive Animation for Longer Downloads 84
Provide Plug-in Information 85
Use Sound to Enhance the Experience 85
Make Learning Fun 86
4 Special Considerations 88
Privacy: Issues and Guidelines 88
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 89
Protecting Privacy While Engaging Children 91
Handling Photographs and Images 100
Privacy Policy 101
Contents v
Accessibility: Clearing the Way to the Table 102
Accessibility Standards 103
Section 508 Guidelines 107
Verifying Accessibility 108
Maintenance 108
Developing a Maintenance Plan 109
Building Maintenance Interfaces 116
Updating the Site 118
5 Building a Team 121
Assembling a Project Team 122
The Team Leader 123
Content Creators 124
Advisers 125
Web Developers 126
Outside Developers 127
Benefits 127
Drawbacks 128
Request for Proposal 129
Developing Effective Teams 130
6 Planning and Organization 134
Refining a Good Idea 134
Let the Brainstorming Begin 135
Developing a Project Plan 136
An Approach to Success 139
Storyboarding 141
Diagramming the Site’s Structure 142
Directory and Naming Conventions 145
Laying out the Screens 146
7 Testing and Evaluation 149
Functional Testing 149
Code Validation 150
Checking Links 151
Performance Testing 152
vi Contents
Browser Compatibility 153
Screen Adaptability 154
Accessibility 155
Usability Testing 159
Creating the Plan 159
Selecting Participants 163
Conducting the Test 166
Evaluating the Results 168
8 Promotion and Marketing 171
Helping Your Site Sell Itself: Web Traffic Tricks and Tips 172
The Domain Game 172
Tags: Keys to Searching Success 174
Registering Your Site 177
In-Library Promotion 179
Print Materials 179
Displays 180
Wearable Promotions 180
Library PCs 181
Electronic Newsletters 181
Programming 181
Giveaways 181
Links on Library Websites 182
Staff 182
Teaser Campaigns 182
External Promotion 183
Schools 183
Local Events 183
Donations 184
Electronic Discussion Lists and Professional Journals 184
APPENDIX 185
REFERENCES 189
INDEX 191
I L L U S T R A T I O N S
1-1 What Media Do Children Aged 8 to 17 Years Prefer? 10
2-1 WOW Web on Wheels Home Page 15
2-2 StoryPlace Home Page 17
2-3 Bilingual Summer Reading Page 18
2-4 Hands on Crafts 19
2-5 Satellite Science 20
2-6 Wired for Youth 21
2-7 Talking Tales 23
2-8 StoryPlace Preschool Theme 24
2-9 Story Hour at the Internet Public Library 25
2-10 Mock Turtle Activity 27
2-11 Face Detective 28
2-12 KidsPoint 29
2-13 FLYP Summer Reading Program Interactive Activity 30
2-14 KidsPoint Summer Reading Club 31
2-15 Who Had a Bright Idea? Matching Game 32
2-16 Splish Splash Read! 2002 33
2-17 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know 35
2-18 Good Reads and Great Books 36
2-19 Kids’ Webrary Home Page 37
2-20 If You Liked These CD-ROMs . . . 38
2-21 BookHive Book Review Search 39
2-22 Cool Reads 40
2-23 Staff Book Picks for Kids 41
2-24 Review Crew 42
2-25 Children’s Book Reviews 43
2-26 Homework Center: American History Web Directory 45
vii
viii Illustrations
2-27 KidsClick! Web Search 46
2-28 Kids’ Webrary Links 47
2-29 Start Squad Kids’ Portal 48
2-30 Brarydog Portal 49
2-31 Potamus Place Pathfinder 51
2-32 Geauga County School Assignment Database 52
2-33 Student Tutorial—Sources of Information 53
2-34 KidsClick! Worlds of Web Searching 54
2-35 Ask Brarydog 55
2-36 Tutor.com Virtual Math Classroom 57
3-1 BookHive Home Page 64
3-2 KidsLinQ Home Page 66
3-3 Hands on Crafts 68
3-4 BookHive Comments from Readers 69
3-5 Kidspace 71
3-6 OH! Kids Home Page 72
3-7 Potamus Place Home Page 73
3-8 Conversation with Flyp 74
3-9 Kids’ Corner Home Page 75
3-10 OH! Kids WebKids Color-Coded Page 78
3-11 BookHive Search Form 80
3-12 Start Squad Options for Viewing 83
3-13 StoryPlace Animated Loading Screen 84
3-14 Potamus Place Navigation Scheme Incorporating
a Variety of Sounds 86
4-1 Kidsite Poll 93
4-2 BookHive “Add Book Comments” Form 94
4-3 KidLinks “Tell Us About a Book You’ve Read” Form 95
4-4 Online Registration Form for Summer Reading Program 96
4-5 Brarydog Form for Creating a User ID and Password 98
4-6 Personalized Conversation with Flyp 99
4-7 Sample Code Explanations for Future Developers 113
4-8 Issues Related to Allowing User Feedback on a Website 114
4-9 Maintenance Process for a Website That Includes
Staff-Written Book Reviews 115
Illustrations ix
4-10 Sample Website Maintenance Plan 117
4-11 ImaginOn Hangman Maintenance Interface 118
4-12 BookHive Maintenance Interface 119
6-1 Sample Project Plan for a Children’s Website 138–139
6-2 Sample Approach-to-Success Document 140–141
6-3 Organizational Chart for the Development of the
StoryPlace Website 143
6-4 Flowchart for the Development of the Mission READ
Website 144
6-5 PowerPoint-Created Storyboard Pages for the ImaginOn
Site 147
7-1 Sample Web Page Scanned by Bobby Software 158
Tables
4-1 Website Maintenance Categories and Sample Elements 110
4-2 Sample Website Elements and Maintenance Issues 111
A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S
T he creation of this book could not have begun without the combined
support and talents of so many people. Without their creativity, imagi-
nation, and collective abilities we would have nothing really to write about.
To them we say a “big thanks” for making the creation of this book a reality.
To Robert Cannon, former Executive Director of the Public Library of
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC). Thank you for your lead-
ership and vision in developing library websites that help to push the enve-
lope in reshaping remote library services.
To the Web Services Team of PLCMC. Thank you for your amazing
skills and abilities in developing fresh new approaches, colorful engaging
designs, and interactive elements, and for providing the programming
backbone to make it all work so well.
To all the PLCMC website teams. Thank you for continuing to churn
out great new ideas that help us reshape the public’s perspective of what
libraries can offer through the Web and for providing the support and
energy to promote and maintain PLCMC’s websites.
To our respective spouses, David Blowers and Donald Bryan. Thank
you for putting up with our absences from family time during this book’s
development and for your ongoing support of our endeavors. We’re both
very lucky to have you in our corners.
xi