Diane's LSC 548 Library Website Reviews

LSC 548 Library Website Reviews

Library Website Comparison
Library Website Comparison

LSC 548

Authority

Name of Web Site Dover Public Library Rochester Public Library

What is the URL? http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/default.htm http://www.rpl.lib.nh.us/

Is there a recognizable sponsor of the web site? Who is it? Will it be possible to find background information about this sponsor? Yes, the library itself. Address and phone number appear at top of page. There is also an "about the library" section that includes links, including a "contact us" link. Yes. The library itself. Address and phone number of the library appear near the top of the opening page. A link that is labeled Contact/Hours leads to more contact numbers as well as detailed directions (including map) to the library.

Has descriptive information about the sponsor been provided, either on the opening page or via an “about us” link? Yes. There appears an "About the library" heading on the opening page with several links. On the opening page, address, phone number and a City of Dover link appear. There are a lot of links that describe what is available through the Rochester Library, as well as detailed contact information. Nothing specifically is labeled "about us" or gives an overall description of services.

Is there an address, phone number, or fax number provided for the sponsor? Address and phone number appear. No fax number is listed on the opening page. Yes, address and phone number appear. No fax number appears.

Is a personal author identified for the information, articles, or documents presented at the web site? A personal author is not identified for the site. A personal author is not identified for the site.

If an author is identified, is it clear what his/her credentials are? Not applicable. No author listed. Not applicable. No author listed.

Is there a way to contact the author? Not applicable. No author listed. Not applicable. No author listed.

Will it be possible to find background information about the author? Not applicable. No author listed. Not applicable. No author listed.

Scope and Purpose

Does the content appear to be fact or opinion? Links to upcoming library events in both adult and children's services and to the catalog feature prominently on the opening page. In that manner, the information is fact. That IS what the library has available in its stacks and that IS what is happening at the library in coming months. The content appears to be mostly factual. It contains links to the library catalog, summer reading program/children's room, upcoming events, hours, online databases, newspaper indexes and community resources. There is a Rochester History page, but it is a link outside of the library, not compiled by the library itself.

What is the scope or purpose of this web site? The purpose of the site appears to be to give people an overview of what is available at the Dover library. It appears also to include links to other services that are available to Dover residents, and to historical information about the library and the general Dover area. The purpose of this site appears to be to give an overview of resources available at the Rochester library. It also includes links to other Rochester city departments, such as the fire dept. Its main focus seems to be on the collections and services provided by the library.

Does the information presented here seem to be complete and comprehensive? What is included? What is excluded? It does not seem comprehensive. For example, under the heading of Library Departments, there are three links (Children's, Teen Corner and ILL), which does not encompass all of the departments at the library. It also may be confusing to patrons who may wonder if these collections are to be found within the catalog. There is also a Patron Services section that seems as though it could be labeled Misc. as it includes everything from Community Links to Museum passes info. It seems like ILL would have been more accurately described under this heading. The information included on this site seems to be somewhat comprehensive. It includes specialized lists of new materials (including a list of the entire video collection), maps and directions to the library, library catalog access, ability for patrons to self-manage accounts, and complete listing of library events. It does not include information about all departments within the library, such as ILL and tech services. Headings are clear and accurate.

How can you tell? Is the scope described

At the top of the first page?

In any help file?

In a “frequently asked questions or FAQ section?

In any other way?

The scope of the site is not described in any of these sections. The only help section that exists is available through a link in the catalog portion of the site. It is filled with corporate jargon and library terms (like iPac) and provides guidance for searching only. There is no FAQ section. The topic of site scope does not appear to be addressed anywhere on the site. A site search option is available. The scope of the site is not described in any of these sections. There is a Quick Search feature that allows one to see site options, and one of the options is a Site Map. No help section exists, though there is a section to show patrons how to place holds.

How does this site compare to similar information elsewhere? In comparison to the Rochester library site, the Dover site contains more information. The historical documents add a new dimension to the site that Rochester's does not possess. However, the volume of information contained has complicated the navigation and headings system. Consequently, it can be harder to find information on the Dover site than on the Rochester site. In comparison to the Dover library site, the format is simpler, which makes it less confusing. The downside is that there seems to be less information available on the actual site.

How is this database structured? Hierarchical and lateral links are available for navigation, though the hierarchical arrangement is the clearer of the two. There is a search feature that enables searching by author, title and topic. Some options for sorting results are available. Hierarchical arrangement seems the most dominant structure, though there are some lateral navigation aids, too. Search features enable search by title, author, subject, word and call number. Advanced sorting options are available, such as searching for a particular format (map, video, book) or in a particular category (young adult, biography). etc.

Are there links provided to other sources of information on this same topic? Is it clear how these links are selected? There are links to paid Online Resources provided by Dover Library, links under "Links for Readers" portion for book clubs, reviews and genre sites. It is not clear how these links were selected. There are also links to the catalogs of other area libraries, including Rochester's catalog. The Rochester library's opening page has a link to the NH State Library's Electronic and Government Resources page http://pierce.state.nh.us/internet/. It states that the NH State Library offers "an excellent list of web resources." Links to Online Databases are also featured on the opening page.

Are the links reliable? Do they get you where you need to go? I found one broken link under Links for Readers. The others were functional. I found one broken link in the Community Links section. All other links were functional.

Accuracy

How accurate is this information? The Dover Library has (for its size) a large collection of historical documents. Consequently, portions of the site are dedicated to local history. Some links are for articles and most include are citations with author, text or periodical information. There are a few instances, however, when citation information is not provided. Information appears to be factual and accurate. The description of the Library's history is brief but has two authors for whom credibility is not established.

How can you tell? Citations are provided with most articles. The bulk of the information contained within the site pertains specifically to the library and its functions. The Community Links section contains links outside of the library, and appear not to be the responsibility of the Rochester library. No disclaimer is listed for the Library's responsibility for them.

When statistics and other factual data are presented is it cited so that one can verify it? Sections of the site, such as Historical Photographs, are well labeled and include descriptions of the subject. In most instances, sources are cited. There is a Dover History timeline provided that does not include citations to sources. It may have been compiled from several works, but no author for it is named. The section about the Rochester Library's history has two named authors, yet no evidence of their authority. No other statistics appear on the site.

Are tables, charts, and graphs clear and easy to understand? Not applicable. Maps provided in the directions section are easy to understand. No other graphs, charts or tables are present.

Is there any bibliography? No bibliography is included. No bibliography is included.

Is the document generally well-written? Free of spelling mistakes and typographical errors? Yes. Yes.

Objectivity

Check the domain to ascertain possible reasons for the provision of this information

..edu - university, school, or other educational site

..com - company or another commercial site

..gov - government site

..org - nonprofit organization site

.~ - usually indicates a personal home page

This site ends in lib.nh.us. It provides the information as a service to Dover, NH patrons. This site ends in lib.nh.us. It provides the information as a service to Rochester, NH patrons.

Is the subject controversial? If so,

Are all sides of the issue presented?

Is the presentation too bland?

Is there a bias? If so, is it stated up front?

Is the information free from advertising?

None of the subjects presented on the site are controversial. None of the subjects presented on the site are controversial.

Is the information free from advertising? Other than specific links to Dover City information and the Strafford County Genealogical Society, nothing that could be construed as advertising is presented. The actual Rochester Library site is free from advertising. Community Links are provided to some area businesses as well as to departments within the Rochester City government.

Currentness

Are any of the following dates provided?

Creation date

Post date

Revision date

The date of last revision is posted on the opening page and again on the Children's Room page. None of these dates are provided.

When was this site last updated? How can you tell? Is there any information on how often the site is updated? The Children's Room main page states that it was last updated in June of 2004 and the Opening page states that it was last updated on July 1,2004. There is no information about how often the site is updated or when it was last revised.

What was updated? The specific information that was updated is not indicated, although a notice of the library being closed for the 4th of July holiday appears on the opening page. Not applicable.

How does the creation of the database stay current? Not clear. Not clear.

In cases where there is statistical data or factual data is it indicated when that data was gathered? No. No.

Does the information seem out of date? The information appears current in the results of all my searches. The information appears current in the results of all my searches.

How stable is this site, its address and its information? Is it here today and gone (or moved) tomorrow? Very stable. Very stable.

Arrangement and Format

How easy is it to find and use this site? It is a tough URL to commit to memory. It is easy to search once in the catalog, but once one enters into the "My Account" portion of the site where people can manage their records (place holds, renew, view blocks, view items out) it can be confusing. Unless patrons know to click on the word heading, it can look like they have no fines, items checked out, items on hold, etc. It is also difficult to find the library mission statement on the site. This is a cumbersome URL. Once the site is found, it is very user friendly. Headings are clear and accurately describe the content. Design is simple and uncluttered. The overall look of the site remains consistent (catalog area is the exception) even in the children's room portion. The amount of information provided seems to be manageable even without a help section.

How convenient is it? Once familiar with the site and its functions, it is fairly easy and convenient to use. Very convenient.

How well-organized? It seems like rather than restructuring or identifying appropriate headings when new materials were added, new sections were created instead. This has detracted from some of the organization plan. The organization of the site is clear and understandable. Headings and links are well chosen to describe navigation paths.

How quickly can you usually get to this site? Get around the site? The site, once found, can be navigated quickly, but the location of some of the contents (items not in the catalog) seems unclear, as in the example of the Library's mission statement above. It appears that the site can be navigated quickly.

How appropriate is the format of the database for its intended audience? The overall format seems appropriate for the intended users. Its search features appear as one would expect them to, and in a clean and uncluttered manner. The overall format seems appropriate for the intended users. Its design is simple and clear, it is easy to navigate and does not overwhelm the user with options./td>

Does the information seem out of date? The information appears to be current, in terms of catalog and library announcements. Only one link appeared to be broken of all the many links I tried. The information appears to be current, in terms of catalog and library announcements. Only one link appeared to be broken of all the many links I tried./td>

Are there any hardware, software, or multimedia requirements? No, just basic browser capability. No, just basic browser capability.

Design Considerations

Does it function well with different browsers? It functions well in both Navigator and Explorer. It functions well in both Navigator and Explorer.

Is too much filler used? No, there appears to be a balance of filler and content. The children's room page is a little bit overwhelming with the amount of color employed. No. The layout is very simple without being sparse.

Is it obvious when you leave to a different site? Yes, mainly because the appearance changes dramatically. No message appears letting the user know that they are heading outside of the confines of the library site. The appearance tips off the user that the site is outside of the library's site. No forewarning appears to notify the user that he/she is heading outside of the library's site. Links and headings also alert the user that sites are out of the library's domain.

Layout Considerations

Enough white space? The opening page and the following adult services pages all utilize a balanced amount of white space with the content. This makes the site easy to read. The children's room portion of the site has more graphics, background and colors employed, and the effect is not as pleasing to the eye. The goal of keeping young readers' interests may have overridden conventional design in this case. It gives the site a busy and cluttered look. There is a good usage of blank space in order to make the layout of the site pleasing to the eye.

Overdone styles? The children's room portion of the site seems overdone. Too much of a good thing. No. There is a good balance and style is consistent throughout the site.

Too many links? I think the number of links is generally appropriate, although I think the headings could be more descriptive. There are an appropriate number of links that are well described by the links themselves and by headings.

Links with too many words? Link lengths seem appropriate and do not overwhelm the user with too much information. Link word choices are excellent and not too lengthy.

Textual descriptions too brief or too long? Overall text descriptions seem appropriate to the material. The children's room text descriptions seem a bit lengthy. Especially in conjunction with the number of colors and graphics used, it seems that a better use could be made of the screen "real estate". Text descriptions are brief but informative. The only exception is the portion where it explains how to place holds. A combination of graphics and (too) brief text are used, and still the procedure seems unclear for a novice user.

Use of color? The adult services portion of the site has a pleasing mixture of colors, employed to evoke a feeling of simplicity throughout the site. As previously noted, the children's room has overused colors and the combinations are not as pleasing. The usage of color is unconventional but largely effective. The green color employed for the catalog portion of the site seems an odd choice, but it may be a personal preference situation. The fact that the majority of the site is a dark blue background with white text works well, except that the already visited links turn magenta and that then makes the links difficult to see.

Graphics

Do the graphics relate to the surrounding text? Yes. Although the text descriptions in the children's room are accompanied by graphics that seem unnecessary and distracting. Yes, the graphics do a good job of augmenting rather than detracting from the text.

Do the graphics provide important information? In the case of the historical documents portion of the site, graphics augment the text well and convey vital historical information. In the case of the children's room portion of the site, the graphics do not enhance understanding of the information or provide information. The graphics themselves do not provide useful information. They seem to be employed to offset the text.

Does the size of the graphics relate to the page content? In the adult services portion of the site yes. In the children's room portion, no. The graphics are consistently proportionate throughout the site.

Are pictures missing? No. No.

What is the quality of the graphics? In most cases the graphics are excellent, especially the historical documents section. The children's room graphics are less sophisticated in appearance and this does detract somewhat from the overall look of the site. The graphics, though there are far fewer than on the Dover site, appear to be of good quality. The only exception is the history of the library page. That particular graphic appears out of place compared with the rest of the site.

How long does it take for the graphics to display? They appear quickly. There is no lag between the appearance of the graphics and the appearance of the text. There is no lag between the appearance of the graphics and the appearance of the text.

Are textual descriptions of graphics provided when a text-based browser is used? No. No.

Are the textual descriptions appropriate? Not applicable. Not applicable.

Help Information

Is “help” provided? A help link is available through the catalog section of the site. The only form of help occurs when instructing patrons how to pace holds on materials.

Is “help” information easy to find? It is not prominently featured on the screen, but it can be seen clearly at the top of screen. It is easy to find when in the catalog portion of the site. It is listed along with searching options.

How helpful is the “help” information? The help section is not helpful. It is filled with phrases like "search term" and refers often to the iPac. Chances are if people were familiar with these terms, they would not need to utilize the help feature. This is a valiant effort to be helpful to visual learners, but it fails.

If “help” isn't provided, should it be provided? A more effective "help" should be employed. Explaining what the features are and what they do would be more beneficial to users. Links and headings are clear enough so that beyond improving the how to place holds section, it may not be necessary to include a help section. The amount of information contained within the site can be located for most users by just reading the links and headings.

Feedback Information

Are opportunities for feedback provided? Yes. Yes. There is a section labeled Comments in the catalog portion of the site. It is listed with the search options, along with how to place holds.

Are feedback opportunities easy to find? There is a solicitation of feedback from the "contact us" link that occurs on the main page. There is also a list of library staff with e-mail contact links. The Comments link may be used more effectively if it was listed on the opening page instead of in the catalog portion.

Overall Feel and Look

How well organized is the site? The site is generally well organized. The site is well organized and user friendly.

Are the pages consistent from page to page? In adult services, the pages are generally consistent. Some of the policy pages break form. The children's room pages are not consistent with the rest of the site. The pages have a consistent look throughout the site, including the children's room portion. The exception is in the actual catalog, where there is a color change and page layout is different.

How easy is it to locate important information? Information within the catalog is easily located. The mission statement was not easy to find. The most important information appears on the opening page, either via links or in text.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (1=poor, 10=superior), rate each web site. 8 for adult services, 6 for children's services. 9 for both adult and children's services.

Briefly describe why you rated each as you did. The adult section of the site was generally clean looking and colors were appealing. Finding basic library information, items in collection, and using links was easy. The portion that allowed for patrons to manage and view accounts could be confusing for a novice user. The children's room portion of the site overused color and graphics, and arrangement of the items on the page was not pleasing to the eye. For a library of its size, this seems like a well planned and functional website. They did not attempt to bite off more than they could chew, and what they presented they presented effectively.

Search Engine Reviews

Library School Website Evaluations

Research Paper Project

Virtual Library Page

Homepage

Name of Web Site	Dover Public Library	Rochester Public Library
What is the URL?	http://www.dover.lib.nh.us/default.htm	http://www.rpl.lib.nh.us/
Is there a recognizable sponsor of the web site? Who is it? Will it be possible to find background information about this sponsor?	Yes, the library itself. Address and phone number appear at top of page. There is also an "about the library" section that includes links, including a "contact us" link.	Yes. The library itself. Address and phone number of the library appear near the top of the opening page. A link that is labeled Contact/Hours leads to more contact numbers as well as detailed directions (including map) to the library.
Has descriptive information about the sponsor been provided, either on the opening page or via an “about us” link?	Yes. There appears an "About the library" heading on the opening page with several links. On the opening page, address, phone number and a City of Dover link appear.	There are a lot of links that describe what is available through the Rochester Library, as well as detailed contact information. Nothing specifically is labeled "about us" or gives an overall description of services.
Is there an address, phone number, or fax number provided for the sponsor?	Address and phone number appear. No fax number is listed on the opening page.	Yes, address and phone number appear. No fax number appears.
Is a personal author identified for the information, articles, or documents presented at the web site?	A personal author is not identified for the site.	A personal author is not identified for the site.
If an author is identified, is it clear what his/her credentials are?	Not applicable. No author listed.	Not applicable. No author listed.
Is there a way to contact the author?	Not applicable. No author listed.	Not applicable. No author listed.
Will it be possible to find background information about the author?	Not applicable. No author listed.	Not applicable. No author listed.

Does the content appear to be fact or opinion?	Links to upcoming library events in both adult and children's services and to the catalog feature prominently on the opening page. In that manner, the information is fact. That IS what the library has available in its stacks and that IS what is happening at the library in coming months.	The content appears to be mostly factual. It contains links to the library catalog, summer reading program/children's room, upcoming events, hours, online databases, newspaper indexes and community resources. There is a Rochester History page, but it is a link outside of the library, not compiled by the library itself.
What is the scope or purpose of this web site?	The purpose of the site appears to be to give people an overview of what is available at the Dover library. It appears also to include links to other services that are available to Dover residents, and to historical information about the library and the general Dover area.	The purpose of this site appears to be to give an overview of resources available at the Rochester library. It also includes links to other Rochester city departments, such as the fire dept. Its main focus seems to be on the collections and services provided by the library.
Does the information presented here seem to be complete and comprehensive? What is included? What is excluded?	It does not seem comprehensive. For example, under the heading of Library Departments, there are three links (Children's, Teen Corner and ILL), which does not encompass all of the departments at the library. It also may be confusing to patrons who may wonder if these collections are to be found within the catalog. There is also a Patron Services section that seems as though it could be labeled Misc. as it includes everything from Community Links to Museum passes info. It seems like ILL would have been more accurately described under this heading.	The information included on this site seems to be somewhat comprehensive. It includes specialized lists of new materials (including a list of the entire video collection), maps and directions to the library, library catalog access, ability for patrons to self-manage accounts, and complete listing of library events. It does not include information about all departments within the library, such as ILL and tech services. Headings are clear and accurate.
How can you tell? Is the scope described At the top of the first page? In any help file? In a “frequently asked questions or FAQ section? In any other way?	The scope of the site is not described in any of these sections. The only help section that exists is available through a link in the catalog portion of the site. It is filled with corporate jargon and library terms (like iPac) and provides guidance for searching only. There is no FAQ section. The topic of site scope does not appear to be addressed anywhere on the site. A site search option is available.	The scope of the site is not described in any of these sections. There is a Quick Search feature that allows one to see site options, and one of the options is a Site Map. No help section exists, though there is a section to show patrons how to place holds.
How does this site compare to similar information elsewhere?	In comparison to the Rochester library site, the Dover site contains more information. The historical documents add a new dimension to the site that Rochester's does not possess. However, the volume of information contained has complicated the navigation and headings system. Consequently, it can be harder to find information on the Dover site than on the Rochester site.	In comparison to the Dover library site, the format is simpler, which makes it less confusing. The downside is that there seems to be less information available on the actual site.
How is this database structured?	Hierarchical and lateral links are available for navigation, though the hierarchical arrangement is the clearer of the two. There is a search feature that enables searching by author, title and topic. Some options for sorting results are available.	Hierarchical arrangement seems the most dominant structure, though there are some lateral navigation aids, too. Search features enable search by title, author, subject, word and call number. Advanced sorting options are available, such as searching for a particular format (map, video, book) or in a particular category (young adult, biography). etc.
Are there links provided to other sources of information on this same topic? Is it clear how these links are selected?	There are links to paid Online Resources provided by Dover Library, links under "Links for Readers" portion for book clubs, reviews and genre sites. It is not clear how these links were selected. There are also links to the catalogs of other area libraries, including Rochester's catalog.	The Rochester library's opening page has a link to the NH State Library's Electronic and Government Resources page http://pierce.state.nh.us/internet/. It states that the NH State Library offers "an excellent list of web resources." Links to Online Databases are also featured on the opening page.
Are the links reliable? Do they get you where you need to go?	I found one broken link under Links for Readers. The others were functional.	I found one broken link in the Community Links section. All other links were functional.

How accurate is this information?	The Dover Library has (for its size) a large collection of historical documents. Consequently, portions of the site are dedicated to local history. Some links are for articles and most include are citations with author, text or periodical information. There are a few instances, however, when citation information is not provided.	Information appears to be factual and accurate. The description of the Library's history is brief but has two authors for whom credibility is not established.
How can you tell?	Citations are provided with most articles.	The bulk of the information contained within the site pertains specifically to the library and its functions. The Community Links section contains links outside of the library, and appear not to be the responsibility of the Rochester library. No disclaimer is listed for the Library's responsibility for them.
When statistics and other factual data are presented is it cited so that one can verify it?	Sections of the site, such as Historical Photographs, are well labeled and include descriptions of the subject. In most instances, sources are cited. There is a Dover History timeline provided that does not include citations to sources. It may have been compiled from several works, but no author for it is named.	The section about the Rochester Library's history has two named authors, yet no evidence of their authority. No other statistics appear on the site.
Are tables, charts, and graphs clear and easy to understand?	Not applicable.	Maps provided in the directions section are easy to understand. No other graphs, charts or tables are present.
Is there any bibliography?	No bibliography is included.	No bibliography is included.
Is the document generally well-written? Free of spelling mistakes and typographical errors?	Yes.	Yes.

Check the domain to ascertain possible reasons for the provision of this information ..edu - university, school, or other educational site ..com - company or another commercial site ..gov - government site ..org - nonprofit organization site .~ - usually indicates a personal home page	This site ends in lib.nh.us. It provides the information as a service to Dover, NH patrons.	This site ends in lib.nh.us. It provides the information as a service to Rochester, NH patrons.
Is the subject controversial? If so, Are all sides of the issue presented? Is the presentation too bland? Is there a bias? If so, is it stated up front? Is the information free from advertising?	None of the subjects presented on the site are controversial.	None of the subjects presented on the site are controversial.
Is the information free from advertising?	Other than specific links to Dover City information and the Strafford County Genealogical Society, nothing that could be construed as advertising is presented.	The actual Rochester Library site is free from advertising. Community Links are provided to some area businesses as well as to departments within the Rochester City government.

Are any of the following dates provided? Creation date Post date Revision date	The date of last revision is posted on the opening page and again on the Children's Room page.	None of these dates are provided.
When was this site last updated? How can you tell? Is there any information on how often the site is updated?	The Children's Room main page states that it was last updated in June of 2004 and the Opening page states that it was last updated on July 1,2004.	There is no information about how often the site is updated or when it was last revised.
What was updated?	The specific information that was updated is not indicated, although a notice of the library being closed for the 4th of July holiday appears on the opening page.	Not applicable.
How does the creation of the database stay current?	Not clear.	Not clear.
In cases where there is statistical data or factual data is it indicated when that data was gathered?	No.	No.
Does the information seem out of date?	The information appears current in the results of all my searches.	The information appears current in the results of all my searches.
How stable is this site, its address and its information? Is it here today and gone (or moved) tomorrow?	Very stable.	Very stable.

How easy is it to find and use this site?	It is a tough URL to commit to memory. It is easy to search once in the catalog, but once one enters into the "My Account" portion of the site where people can manage their records (place holds, renew, view blocks, view items out) it can be confusing. Unless patrons know to click on the word heading, it can look like they have no fines, items checked out, items on hold, etc. It is also difficult to find the library mission statement on the site.	This is a cumbersome URL. Once the site is found, it is very user friendly. Headings are clear and accurately describe the content. Design is simple and uncluttered. The overall look of the site remains consistent (catalog area is the exception) even in the children's room portion. The amount of information provided seems to be manageable even without a help section.
How convenient is it?	Once familiar with the site and its functions, it is fairly easy and convenient to use.	Very convenient.
How well-organized?	It seems like rather than restructuring or identifying appropriate headings when new materials were added, new sections were created instead. This has detracted from some of the organization plan.	The organization of the site is clear and understandable. Headings and links are well chosen to describe navigation paths.
How quickly can you usually get to this site? Get around the site?	The site, once found, can be navigated quickly, but the location of some of the contents (items not in the catalog) seems unclear, as in the example of the Library's mission statement above.	It appears that the site can be navigated quickly.
How appropriate is the format of the database for its intended audience?	The overall format seems appropriate for the intended users. Its search features appear as one would expect them to, and in a clean and uncluttered manner.	The overall format seems appropriate for the intended users. Its design is simple and clear, it is easy to navigate and does not overwhelm the user with options./td>
Does the information seem out of date?	The information appears to be current, in terms of catalog and library announcements. Only one link appeared to be broken of all the many links I tried.	The information appears to be current, in terms of catalog and library announcements. Only one link appeared to be broken of all the many links I tried./td>
Are there any hardware, software, or multimedia requirements?	No, just basic browser capability.	No, just basic browser capability.

Does it function well with different browsers?	It functions well in both Navigator and Explorer.	It functions well in both Navigator and Explorer.
Is too much filler used?	No, there appears to be a balance of filler and content. The children's room page is a little bit overwhelming with the amount of color employed.	No. The layout is very simple without being sparse.
Is it obvious when you leave to a different site?	Yes, mainly because the appearance changes dramatically. No message appears letting the user know that they are heading outside of the confines of the library site.	The appearance tips off the user that the site is outside of the library's site. No forewarning appears to notify the user that he/she is heading outside of the library's site. Links and headings also alert the user that sites are out of the library's domain.

Enough white space?	The opening page and the following adult services pages all utilize a balanced amount of white space with the content. This makes the site easy to read. The children's room portion of the site has more graphics, background and colors employed, and the effect is not as pleasing to the eye. The goal of keeping young readers' interests may have overridden conventional design in this case. It gives the site a busy and cluttered look.	There is a good usage of blank space in order to make the layout of the site pleasing to the eye.
Overdone styles?	The children's room portion of the site seems overdone. Too much of a good thing.	No. There is a good balance and style is consistent throughout the site.
Too many links?	I think the number of links is generally appropriate, although I think the headings could be more descriptive.	There are an appropriate number of links that are well described by the links themselves and by headings.
Links with too many words?	Link lengths seem appropriate and do not overwhelm the user with too much information.	Link word choices are excellent and not too lengthy.
Textual descriptions too brief or too long?	Overall text descriptions seem appropriate to the material. The children's room text descriptions seem a bit lengthy. Especially in conjunction with the number of colors and graphics used, it seems that a better use could be made of the screen "real estate".	Text descriptions are brief but informative. The only exception is the portion where it explains how to place holds. A combination of graphics and (too) brief text are used, and still the procedure seems unclear for a novice user.
Use of color?	The adult services portion of the site has a pleasing mixture of colors, employed to evoke a feeling of simplicity throughout the site. As previously noted, the children's room has overused colors and the combinations are not as pleasing.	The usage of color is unconventional but largely effective. The green color employed for the catalog portion of the site seems an odd choice, but it may be a personal preference situation. The fact that the majority of the site is a dark blue background with white text works well, except that the already visited links turn magenta and that then makes the links difficult to see.

Do the graphics relate to the surrounding text?	Yes. Although the text descriptions in the children's room are accompanied by graphics that seem unnecessary and distracting.	Yes, the graphics do a good job of augmenting rather than detracting from the text.
Do the graphics provide important information?	In the case of the historical documents portion of the site, graphics augment the text well and convey vital historical information. In the case of the children's room portion of the site, the graphics do not enhance understanding of the information or provide information.	The graphics themselves do not provide useful information. They seem to be employed to offset the text.
Does the size of the graphics relate to the page content?	In the adult services portion of the site yes. In the children's room portion, no.	The graphics are consistently proportionate throughout the site.
Are pictures missing?	No.	No.
What is the quality of the graphics?	In most cases the graphics are excellent, especially the historical documents section. The children's room graphics are less sophisticated in appearance and this does detract somewhat from the overall look of the site.	The graphics, though there are far fewer than on the Dover site, appear to be of good quality. The only exception is the history of the library page. That particular graphic appears out of place compared with the rest of the site.
How long does it take for the graphics to display?	They appear quickly. There is no lag between the appearance of the graphics and the appearance of the text.	There is no lag between the appearance of the graphics and the appearance of the text.
Are textual descriptions of graphics provided when a text-based browser is used?	No.	No.
Are the textual descriptions appropriate?	Not applicable.	Not applicable.

Is “help” provided?	A help link is available through the catalog section of the site.	The only form of help occurs when instructing patrons how to pace holds on materials.
Is “help” information easy to find?	It is not prominently featured on the screen, but it can be seen clearly at the top of screen.	It is easy to find when in the catalog portion of the site. It is listed along with searching options.
How helpful is the “help” information?	The help section is not helpful. It is filled with phrases like "search term" and refers often to the iPac. Chances are if people were familiar with these terms, they would not need to utilize the help feature.	This is a valiant effort to be helpful to visual learners, but it fails.
If “help” isn't provided, should it be provided?	A more effective "help" should be employed. Explaining what the features are and what they do would be more beneficial to users.	Links and headings are clear enough so that beyond improving the how to place holds section, it may not be necessary to include a help section. The amount of information contained within the site can be located for most users by just reading the links and headings.

Are opportunities for feedback provided?	Yes.	Yes. There is a section labeled Comments in the catalog portion of the site. It is listed with the search options, along with how to place holds.
Are feedback opportunities easy to find?	There is a solicitation of feedback from the "contact us" link that occurs on the main page. There is also a list of library staff with e-mail contact links.	The Comments link may be used more effectively if it was listed on the opening page instead of in the catalog portion.

How well organized is the site?	The site is generally well organized.	The site is well organized and user friendly.
Are the pages consistent from page to page?	In adult services, the pages are generally consistent. Some of the policy pages break form. The children's room pages are not consistent with the rest of the site.	The pages have a consistent look throughout the site, including the children's room portion. The exception is in the actual catalog, where there is a color change and page layout is different.
How easy is it to locate important information?	Information within the catalog is easily located. The mission statement was not easy to find.	The most important information appears on the opening page, either via links or in text.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1=poor, 10=superior), rate each web site.	8 for adult services, 6 for children's services.	9 for both adult and children's services.
Briefly describe why you rated each as you did.	The adult section of the site was generally clean looking and colors were appealing. Finding basic library information, items in collection, and using links was easy. The portion that allowed for patrons to manage and view accounts could be confusing for a novice user. The children's room portion of the site overused color and graphics, and arrangement of the items on the page was not pleasing to the eye.	For a library of its size, this seems like a well planned and functional website. They did not attempt to bite off more than they could chew, and what they presented they presented effectively.