Dear Webmaster,
I chose the American Library Association website to review because my major is Library Science. I use this website so much within my major I found it would be good to critique it. This website is useful not only while I’m in school but also when I am in my career in the future. This website had all of the elements I read about in my textbook but it also could use some improvements as well. This website has been very helpful throughout my career as a student but who else would it be helpful for? Is it designed well? Does it paint a clear picture of exactly what it wants to say? Are the links clear? Is the language plain and easy to comprehend? What is the rhetorical purpose in the web design? What type of information is presented in the website? Is the site accommodated for readers with disabilities? Is there a site map? Is the website attractive? Does it contain too much information? Is the text of the website easy to read? While the website of the American Library Association is very professional, it is in need of many suggestions and changes. These questions address above will help us get to the root of these issues with the American Library Association.
This website while useful to library science students and librarians of all sorts may also be used by students or other people who want news about libraries, contests or grants for libraries. This site is also used in the job search for librarians. While being a member of the American Library Association you get news as well as the webinars of the site. The site is very helpful to people just starting their library career or maybe want to stay up to date in the libraries in America. This site gives a good overall sum of all polices and codes librarians must follow. While they have these items on their site, they are somewhat hard to access. I think the website uses its main page for promotion and news not that it not important but I don’t think it’s as important as the polices and job listings. One the first things that caught my attention on the page were the links to the online gift shop etc. The website is designed well but it has a few flaws in design such as too much text and too much advertising. I believe the site is very clear in what it wants to say at times but sometimes it doesn’t direct as well. You have to know if you are searching for the Bill of Rights or the Code of Ethics to find them. The links on the sides for promotions of stuff like jobs, the online store and joining ALA are clear but none of the others really are clear. I would say the site is accommodated for some disabilities as well as keeping in mind the computer one with a disability one may use. It is important to keep in mind that while this site speaks to professionals it is important to accommodate everyone. There is lots going on in the site it seems very vibrate while boring at the same time. The grey background while plain and good on the eyes gets thrown with the vibrant colors of the news and the moving announcements. There is no site map and it is not very easy to navigate. Maybe these suggestions can be taken to consideration for the help of this website for the masses.
Thank you, Erin Kolb
No comments:
Post a Comment