Let’s be real. Most library homepages look like someone tried to squeeze the entire building onto one screen. There’s the event carousel. The newsletter signup. Program promotions. A giant banner about summer reading. And somewhere, buried deep, is the information users actually came to find — like hours, locations, or how to get a library… Continue reading Is your homepage doing too much?
Author: Laura
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2024 edition)
In previous years, I’ve noted how much we need a distraction from our ongoing dumpster fires, and thus the need for this annual list. That statement still applies. Look away from the flames for just a few minutes and possibly be reminded that there are still some good corners of the interwebs. Happy holidays. If… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2024 edition)
There’s no such thing as a perfect website
When we look at a library website, there are a multitude of decisions that likely went into its creation, and it’s not always easy to discern why or how those decisions were made.
Libraries, stop asking “how”
Recently, I gave a presentation on 2024 technology trends. I always carefully preface this type of session with a disclaimer: I do, in fact, cover trends in technology, and not applications that could (yet) be implemented in libraries. The webinar description even refers specifically to trends in technology, not trends in libraries or especially to technology… Continue reading Libraries, stop asking “how”
Are you on a listserv? Don’t be this person
The agency that I work for runs a good number of listservs for library staff and organizations around the state. As a result, we see a lot of the messages that get sent to these listservs. Most users are responsible but there are those who are not. The latter not only clutter up the inboxes… Continue reading Are you on a listserv? Don’t be this person
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2023 edition)
The year is nearly over and you likely need distractions from the 2023 dumpster fire. Cue my annual list of ways to not notice the news cycle and, of course, to not get your work done. As always there are a lot more than I can list here, but these are my current favorites. Watch… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2023 edition)
Libraries, it’s time to quit Twitter. For real.
I never imagined that I would be writing that headline. I have been on Twitter/X since 2007. I have used it not only regularly, but heavily. It has been instrumental for professional connections and communication for me. I’ve maintained accounts not just for myself, but for several other institutions, businesses and organizations. While parts of… Continue reading Libraries, it’s time to quit Twitter. For real.
The old web is dying. Where does this leave libraries?
It’s not a secret that the world changed in November of 2022. If you don’t recall, that was when ChatGPT was publicly released. The full impact is still being digested as public consciousness surrounding AI progresses. There’s a great deal of both excitement and fear as AI marches towards nearly every aspect of our existence.… Continue reading The old web is dying. Where does this leave libraries?
Are librarians the next prompt engineers?
My head is swirling after I read this article in The Atlantic. The title is: Talking to AI Might Be the Most Important Skill of This Century There’s so much in this story that I had some difficulty trying to condense it all. (Mandatory “go read the whole thing, it’s worth it” call to action,… Continue reading Are librarians the next prompt engineers?
Social media: is it gone yet?
Very recently, I made the reluctant decision to stop doing webinars focused on tracking social media metrics. The topic was one that has made me uneasy for a while, but there seemed to be at least some demand for it. There has definitely been evolution in how these are measured since the early days of… Continue reading Social media: is it gone yet?
Eyeing Mastodon somewhat warily
Like many, I’m torn between moving to Mastodon for principled reasons and the need to maintain existing communities.
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2022 edition)
We can sigh with relief, since 2022 is almost over. At any rate, I’m sure that we all could use some fun distractions from the evolving dystopia we might be surrounded by. TBH, I actually had way more than I could list here, so here are some of my favorites from this year. Happy holidays!… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2022 edition)
No, your logo shouldn’t be bigger
People are naturally drawn to what’s attractive and easy to understand. Oversized logos, on the other hand, are aggressive and tacky; think of it as visually shouting at your consumers. Grace Cole, Stryvve Marketing Your library is (probably) proud of its logo. It might have cost a mint to have a professional create it (and a professional should… Continue reading No, your logo shouldn’t be bigger
Make your library’s headlines better (without turning them into clickbait)
“Clickbait” From Oxford Language: noun (on the internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page. I have an intense dislike of clickbait headlines. However, I do completely understand why they exist: standing out in the vast sea of content is extremely… Continue reading Make your library’s headlines better (without turning them into clickbait)
Does your library have a font problem?
While discussing the aesthetics of a library program promotion, my supervisor made this comment: “Their graphic designer never met a font they didn’t like.” In other words, there were too many fonts being used in one campaign. There wasn’t a cohesive look as far as the text used in the graphics. It was distracting, and… Continue reading Does your library have a font problem?
Your library’s online audience really isn’t everyone
Libraries can provide services to many different populations. As library staff, we often want to help as many people, in as many different ways, as possible. While this is admirable, it’s hardly realistic, particularly when resources and time are limited commodities. Your library may have had to make some decisions about where to focus its … Continue reading Your library’s online audience really isn’t everyone
How turkey vultures can help your library’s marketing
In a former career, I was an outdoor/environmental education teacher. Many of the kids I got to interact with were from the inner city, and our program was likely the first time they had ever been in the woods. Many were leery, some were scared. Many of them had big issues to contend with back… Continue reading How turkey vultures can help your library’s marketing
The Googly-Eyed Technology test
Years ago, I worked in a library where the administration was intrigued by every new available technological advancement. There were a good number of positive things that came out of this interest, and the IT department had a significant amount of leeway in trying new things. But (and you knew there was a “but”), the… Continue reading The Googly-Eyed Technology test
4 rules to make your promotional graphics a lot better
Do you create promotional graphics for your library’s website or social media? Yes, design can be subjective, but there are definitely guidelines that should be considered. After all, you’re not doing this for the sake of creating art: you’re trying to sell a potential user or attendee on an idea. I’m sharing my four rules… Continue reading 4 rules to make your promotional graphics a lot better
Long story short: Yes, your library can be sued over its website
Without a doubt, one of the most popular webinars I’ve presented nationwide has been one that introduces library staff to the concept of web accessibility. It’s something I deal with regularly in my job, and I’ve learned so much more as I’ve taken multiple classes on the topic over the past couple of years. And,… Continue reading Long story short: Yes, your library can be sued over its website
I’ve written something new.
I’ve taken much of what I’ve thought and learned about website work for libraries, and put it down on paper. You can get a (digital) copy of my Library Technology Report for the American Library Association here, with your ALA membership. I’m in good company; other report authors include folks like Marshall Breeding, David Lee… Continue reading I’ve written something new.
Stop saying this, because you’re making me cry
I’ve been doing web work for libraries for more than a couple of decades. When I started out, during the early days of the graphic web, libraries were spending significant amounts of staff time introducing the web and how it works to their communities. Many patrons were learning how to navigate online, learning how to… Continue reading Stop saying this, because you’re making me cry
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2021 edition)
Was 2021 marginally better than 2020? Maybe? At any rate, I’m sure that we all could use some fun distractions. Here are some of my favorites from this year. Happy holidays. Type like a hacker. Just start typing, and this does all the work. Impress your friends with the scary green text that appears on… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2021 edition)
Why your library’s logo might be terrible: dos and don’ts of logo design
Hopefully, you’ve read the other two parts of this series, so I don’t want to generally duplicate that information here. Think of this list as “Other Logo-Related Stuff You Need to Know.”
Why your library’s logo might be terrible: Things to consider BEFORE the logo is approved
If your library has decided to create a new logo, here are some basic things to consider during the design process.
Why your library’s logo might be terrible: understanding what a logo does
In my job as a front end designer/developer, I work with a lot of library logos. I also work with a lot of library staff that don’t understand the importance of what they do, or how a good one is created. When faced with a sub-par logo, there’s often not much I can do other than work with whatever I’ve been given. Even libraries with awful logos cannot undertake a redesign lightly, or particular staff people may be emotionally invested in their creation and don’t want something new…even if it’s better.
You are not a patron. So act like it.
As a staff person, your view (mental model) of the library’s website is incredibly different from that of a patron. It’s so very different, that you can’t even pretend to be a patron user. It’s vital that this is acknowledged.
Does anybody actually work here?
Let’s start this discussion with a question:
Is library staff important?
Your homepage isn’t nearly as important as you think it is
Yes, the website’s homepage is important. But it’s not nearly as mission-critical as many staff think it is. Why?
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2020 edition)
Let’s face it: 2020 has been a serious dumpster fire and the more distractions, the better. In that vein, here are some of my favorites from this year. Happy holidays.
You’re being forced to abandon vanity metrics. That’s a good thing.
What we’re seeing now, though represents a huge shift in how even the social media platforms themselves are viewing low-level (often referred to as “vanity”) metrics.
Make your library’s social media posts better in 5 easy steps
For the past couple of months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a small, selective cohort of library staff from public libraries in Tennessee. Each week, we look at important concepts in social media and content marketing, and then review their assignments, which are based on the previous week’s concepts. It’s been a great… Continue reading Make your library’s social media posts better in 5 easy steps
Is working from home too quiet for you? Three tools to help
However, even I will sometimes admit that things can get just a little too quiet. Granted, if you’ve got kids or family trapped in the house with you right now, that might not be one of your problems. For myself, I find music to be far too distracting to use as ambient sound on a regular basis. That’s where services like the ones below come into play.
The “3-click rule” has been hogwash since it’s inception
I could go on for a while about how the “rules” of web design have changed in twenty years, but one “rule” that has somehow persisted, despite real data now being available, is that of “Users won’t go more than three clicks past your homepage to get to anything.”
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2019 edition)
Happy holidays! It’s time for my annual collection of Online Stuff To Waste Time On. You know, in case you needed help not getting your work done. And, by the way, this is the TENTH year I’ve been putting out this list.
Libraries: let’s be honest about “emerging technology”
A couple of years ago, I was asked to do a series of this type of workshop for an out-of-state consortium. When the evaluations came back to me a few weeks afterwards, I got very good marks as a presenter, but some comments threw me for a loop. A common complaint was that the technology topics I covered were not being used in libraries. I was stunned.
Your building is not your product
The building ISN’T the library, but it is part of the library’s identity.
Why do web myths live on in libraries?
Why do these myths continue to be perpetuated in libraries? Perhaps because so many of us grew up alongside the web. We were initiated in the very early days, when it was truly a Wild West-type environment. Not everyone realizes that those days are truly long-gone and there’s actually real sheriffs in town.
Top posts of 2018
What was popular this past year, here on the blog? Here’s the list: Because You’re Not Getting Much Done Anyway (2017 edition) Social media isn’t what it used to be…and it never will be again (Part I) Free Online Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed 404: Houston, We Have a Problem Level Up Your Library’s… Continue reading Top posts of 2018
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2018 edition)
Happy holidays! It’s time for my annual collection of Online Stuff To Waste Time On. You know, in case you needed help not getting your work done. Hear the sound of a vintage Viewmaster and dozens of other long-forgotten sounds of everyday life. German website “Conserve the Sound” allows you to choose the sound you want to… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2018 edition)
No Photoshop? Try free LunaPic instead
I work with a good number of smaller libraries that don’t have professional graphic artists on staff and also rarely have the money or expertise to use high-level design software, such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. Oftentimes, our clients simply need a way to resize or crop images for their websites. Maybe do some… Continue reading No Photoshop? Try free LunaPic instead
My relationship with Facebook: “It’s complicated”
It is part of the global Internet infrastructure now. Safiya Noble, a University of Southern California professor and author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism I often fantasize about deleting my Facebook account. I don’t think I’m the only one: between the “timesuck” factor and the constant security breaches, the #DeleteFacebook hashtag has risen… Continue reading My relationship with Facebook: “It’s complicated”
When it comes to your library’s website, are you a climate change denier?
Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion. W. Edwards Deming One of the least comfortable parts of my job as a web developer/designer is to convince library clients that certain things they may think they want are not actually in their best interests. People often have things in mind that they think “look… Continue reading When it comes to your library’s website, are you a climate change denier?
I got to talk TRS-80s with the Library Pros
If you’re not familiar with the Library Pros, they’re a librarian and a library IT professional, podcasting interviews with folks doing interesting things in the library field. Bob and Chris approached me earlier this year, after seeing my crazy stream of tweets that I provided at Computers in Libraries in April. I was happy to… Continue reading I got to talk TRS-80s with the Library Pros
Social media isn’t what it used to be…and it never will be again (Part II)
(Read Part I here) The decline of sharing In his 2015 book The Content Code, Mark W. Schaefer points out that even great content isn’t enough. “But epic content simply earns a seat at the table today. The real power only comes to those who can create content that connects, engages and moves through the… Continue reading Social media isn’t what it used to be…and it never will be again (Part II)
Social media isn’t what it used to be…and it never will be again (Part I)
INTRODUCTION For the past few years, the vast majority of news from the social media realm has been in a positive vein. Popular formats and platforms. Demographic shifts between channels. Social media influencers. And, overarching the more granular changes, the continual rise of social media use. Until now. 2018 has marked the beginning of something… Continue reading Social media isn’t what it used to be…and it never will be again (Part I)
Cliphy: Add fun to words
I spend a fair amount of time testing out new online tools, usually of the free variety. Some don’t work as advertised. Some are cool, and I sing their praises to the virtual rooftops. Others are just useful in very specific ways. Cliphy is one of these niche tools that just does one thing, and… Continue reading Cliphy: Add fun to words
Is Alexa killing off websites? Not quite.
I ran across this Medium post by tech futurist Michael Spencer the other day. In it, Spencer claims that websites are about to disappear because of AI-powered voice assistants, like Alexa. (It’s pretty short, I suggest you take a moment to at least scan it before reading on, here). It wasn’t all that long ago that… Continue reading Is Alexa killing off websites? Not quite.
Free online tools you didn’t know you needed
I had the privilege of speaking to a packed house at the Computers in Libraries 2018 conference last month. Here’s my slidedeck, featuring a small sample of some of my favorite online tools. Enjoy! Free Online Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed! from Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
Cars didn’t make horses unemployed…they made horses unemployable
SPOILER ALERT: Humans are the new horses. Welcome to the robot revolution. This riveting 15-minute film really brings home what’s happening on the tech front right now. An important point: a lot of it has already happened. That’s the part not everyone absorbs. We just haven’t seen the full ripple effect…yet. Also, see Poll: Americans Are More… Continue reading Cars didn’t make horses unemployed…they made horses unemployable
Level up your library’s website with this one little thing
In 2016, my workplace did a study to determine the state of various issues on public library websites in Ohio. One of the numbers that was concerning was the widespread lack of a favicon. Over 45% of the 171 libraries evaluated didn’t have one. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the term is simply a mashup… Continue reading Level up your library’s website with this one little thing
Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2017 edition)
Happy holidays! It’s time for my annual collection of Stuff You Didn’t Know Existed But Can Waste Your Time On. You know, in case you needed help not getting your work done. Sandcastles: If you, like most people, feel that 2017 has left much to be desired, this site won’t help. Watch the virtual sandcastles… Continue reading Because you’re not getting much work done anyway (2017 edition)
Is your library ready for mobile payments?
Drive up to almost any McDonald’s drive-through window and you will see stickers proclaiming that the restaurant now takes payments through Apple Pay and Android Pay. Visa has just rolled out a program so that New Yorkers can use their phones to pay for the subway. Even the Girl Scouts are taking mobile payments and,… Continue reading Is your library ready for mobile payments?
Should your library be podcasting?
Confession time: I haven’t listened to podcasts in quite a while. I was only sort of marginally aware that they had even made any kind of comeback; it was only after a coworker raved about her podcast habit that I began to wonder if I was one of the few not listening these days. As… Continue reading Should your library be podcasting?
Make your own animated GIFs from video captures–easy
Animated GIFs are everywhere, especially in social media. Even my Android phone has many built into its SMS app. They’ve become a very common part of modern communication. Not only do they effectively communicate emotions, but they have a significant entertainment value as well. Would your library like to make it’s own? (Who wouldn’t?) All… Continue reading Make your own animated GIFs from video captures–easy
Make your links and buttons more effective
Before we can talk about links or buttons, we’ve got to cover an important concept in online marketing. It’s called the CTA (“Call To Action”). Douglas Karr, writing for MarTech, defines as CTA as: A call to action is typically as a region of the screen that drives the reader to click-through to engage further… Continue reading Make your links and buttons more effective
Frustrated? Why your library needs to level up to content marketing
It’s no longer a novelty for a library to be visible online: it’s a necessity. It’s time to level up how we present our libraries online, because “doing social media” doesn’t cut it.
What if your library’s website solved problems?
Go look at your library’s website. Now, go look at the website of the library nearest yours. Now go look at some big city’s website. Heck, go look at most websites I’ve done. And, while you’re looking, pretend that you’re a patron with any of the following questions/needs: “I’m a sixth-grader and I have a… Continue reading What if your library’s website solved problems?
How to set better library social media goals
What are your library’s social media goals? At first glance, the answer to that question might not seem all that difficult. And, if I ask you (or other library staff) this question, you might come back with answers like these: “Increase program attendance” “Get circ stats up” “Make people aware of the library” Those are… Continue reading How to set better library social media goals
Emerging Tech Trends Spring 2017
I did a webinar for OPLIN last month on a few trends we’re seeing come to the fore. You can see it here: https://ohlibrary.adobeconnect.com/p5zkqluwnsi/