WALSsite

Main aspects of webdesign

• design/layout
• custom graphics
• site setup
• content

Each of these parts can take a fair amount of time to setup, depending on what you’d like to have. To help everyone, I have a list below of what we need from you to get started. The best thing to do is make note of sites you like, and features you see on those sites that you like. What would be best is to start a set of http://del.icio.us/ bookmarks. With each link you add, include some notes as to what about that site you like and would like to see on your own site.

When evaluating websites, here are some things to take into consideration:

• What are the main categories on the home page?
• What is the structure of the site?
• What are the names for most common links: services, hours, ILL etc.?
• How are links to electronic databases organized?
• What dynamic, interactive elements are included?
• Are there any special collection Web sites linked to or integrated within the main web site?
• Is there anything extraordinary on the Web site?
• What are the aesthetics like?
• How user friendly is the site?
• Is the navigation clear and consistent?

Using your answers from those questions and what you know about your site’s content, determine the features and categories from those sites that are most appropriate for your site. Consider how they have included this information and decide what will work for your site.

Things we need to know before we can start:

What sites have you seen that you like?

• what did you like about them?
• what features would you like to see?
• who’s responsible for what content?
• how much are you willing to spend for software?

Pick a theme/selection of themes

• http://websites.winnefox.org/theme
• can pick more than one
• colors/graphics can be changed
• elements from one can be used in another
• (see below for more information)

What kinds of content would you like to have on the site?

• events calendar
• meeting room calendar
• featured events
• 'what’s new' blog
• ability for patrons to contribute content (comments/reviews)
• forms
• search engine
• book lists (recommended reading)
• donations
• instant messaging (would you like it tied into the site)

Menus

• main categories across the top with sub menus on the left:
  http://www.menashalibrary.org
• single menu across the top
  http://www.apple.com
• single menu on side (and, which side)
  http://www.engadget.com/
• flyout menu across the top
  http://www.tanfa.co.uk/css/examples/menu/hs5.asp
• vertical flyout menu
  http://www.cssplay.co.uk/menus/flyoutt.html

Creating an outline of all pages you’d like to have, including where they go within the menu system would be extremely helpful as well.

Once we have this information from you, we can better tailor your site to your needs, and how you want to serve your patrons. Based on the features you’d like to have, the amount you are willing to spend on software, and who will be maintaining your site, we may recommend Drupal or Dreamweaver. Before any decision is made, we can provide a demo of each so you can see how it meets your needs. Once that’s decided on, we will begin the template design process. We will work closely with you to create a design you are proud of. Depending on what you’d like, this can be time consuming. To get some ideas, you can visit this page: http://websites.winnefox.org/theme. You don’t have to use one of the themes shown there, but this can give you a starting point. If not one fits what you’d like, you can pick more than one and we can try to incorporate the elements you like in each into one. For instance, I used the Multiflex theme for Menasha. I just used that theme as a starting point. Every other theme on their site is a further customization of that theme. Once we’ve helped you narrow it down to a few, it may be helpful to go over them with your board.

When you are happy with the design, we will proceed to setting your site up for you. Once this process begins, and the further into the setup we get, the more difficult it can be to make changes to the overall design. So, it’s important to voice your opinions before too much work is done.