School’s have had to make some dramatic changes to their websites to accommodate virtual learning and kids engaging with their library collections from a distance. I imagine those responsible for these changes are having to weigh function and design issues. They are trying to deliver as much as they possibly can on one webpage! What a challenge!
I looked at Newbury Elementary’s website and I liked how it is relatively a clean looking site. There’s a tendency to cram everything onto the home page but instead they have a few posts that apply to everyone- a recognizable picture from their space, bow to search their catalog, how to get a Boston public library card, etc. Then they have tabs for the each grades and use a plug-in called symbaloo to organize all the different apps and websites that are age appropriate by picture. It’s a clean way to organize it and I imagine it’s pretty user friendly for a 1st grader to navigate.
The Harris County Public Library also has a really beautiful website. It’s more tailored to adult users but it’s still clean, simple and easy to navigate. I really like the bold color scheme. They start with a website search bar, then a catalog search bar and then they highlight their help desk, their e-books and online resources and information on their fall programs. There are a few more things on the home page and then a clean list of links the bottom of the page. It’s very engaging and simple.
I also found the MMHS Janice M. Mills Library Learning Commons a helpful example of incorporating the bitmoji of the librarian for a familiar “face”. The texts are simple and readable and I like that the bitmoji classroom OR the menu at the top both take you to the important links.
I think each of these websites are great examples of how to deliver a lot of resources but still keep the site organized and simple for the students to use. Some library sites look like they threw everything they could think of on the front page and it’s an assault to your vision just to navigate it. I hope I can balance including helpful resources along with good design. Simple does not mean boring!