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Why
PATRONS
HATE
your
library’s
WEBSITE
Laura Solomon
Library Services Manager
Ohio Public Library Information Network
(OPLIN)
laura@oplin.org
www.meanlaura.com
Not a happy patron 
Why?
•Can’t find things
•Ignoring of conventions
•Believing in myths
Library website
THE
HAYSTACK
aka
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckaiserca/434019427/
Where’s the CATALOG?
(I’m pretty sure this is copyrighted by Warner Brothers, but that’s not where
I found it. Thank you in advance for not suing me.)
“MINE!”
Where to START??
Libraries have a BIG problem with SEARCH
Shortchanged on space
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/24/10-useful-usability-findings-and-guidelines
• 18 characters:
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
• 27 characters:
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What’s wrong with this?
Search this site:
Search
Example Public Library
• examplelibrary.org
• www.examplelibrary.org
NOT
“Don’t you know that the people in “my”
library’s area are different? Don’t you
know they use the web an ENTIRELY
different way than anywhere else? That
I, and I alone, know how these folks
work?”
Bill Hardison, Technology Coordinator,
Northwest Regional Library System, Ohio
(Speaking tongue-in-cheek)
willusingtheprefixcybermakemelooklikeanidiot.com
Example Public LibraryLogo HERE.
Really.
WEBSITE
MYTHOLOGY
Stop opening things
The ”3-click rule” is utter
nonsense.
(Can we finally bury this one? Please??)
You are NOT like your users
(You)
Here’s a quarter.
You might need it.
More choices=happier patrons?
Stop stuffing the nav
Dropdown menus show "a
fundamental misunderstanding of
information architecture & how to
apply it to web projects"
Jamie Freeman, Director, Message
web design
It does NOT take a committee
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uk_parliament/3385208124/
What does this mean to me,
Laura?
Stay current
Look
outside
of
this
Twitter: @laurasolomon
Facebook: Facebook.com/laurasolomon
Blog: What Does This Mean to Me, Laura?
(http://www.meanlaura.com)
Email: laura@oplin.org
Contact me:

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Why Patrons Hate Your Library's Website