Library Website Comparison
LSC 548
Authority
| Name of Web Site | (Name of First Library Web Site) Cumberland Public Library | (Name of Second Library Web Site) Jesse Smith Memorial Library |
| What is the URL? | www.cumberland library.org/ | 204.17.98.73/BurLib |
| Is there a recognizable sponsor of the web site? Who is it? Will it be possible to find background information about this sponsor? | no | yes, Amazon.com
Yes, there is a link to Amazon.com |
| Has descriptive information about the sponsor been provided, either on the opening page or via an “about us” link? | no
|
There is a link to Amazon.com |
| Is there an address, phone number, or fax number provided for the sponsor? | NA | no |
| Is a personal author identified for the information, articles, or documents presented at the web site? | No, they do not identify the author of the web site. They do have a listing of all the employees of the library. | No, but they do list some of the library staff and the board of trustees president with an email address. It states that the reference page was created by Mazzo, but when I clicked on that link, the page could not be displayed. |
| If an author is identified, is it clear what his/her credentials are? | NA | NA |
| Is there a way to contact the author? | Call the library | Call the library |
| Will it be possible to find background information about the author? | Yes, if you contact the library, but not at the site. | Yes, it you contact the library, but not on the web site. |
Scope and Purpose
| Does the content appear to be fact or opinion? | fact | fact |
| What is the scope or purpose of this web site? | It appears that the purpose of this web site is to help people
locate books and information but they do not state this anywhere on
their site.
There is no mission statement. |
This information is not included anywhere on the site. It
appears that the purpose of the site is to help people locate
information and books.
The mission statement is not included on the site. |
| Does the information presented here seem to be complete and comprehensive? What is included? What is excluded? | There is a lot of information packed into this web site. They have included links to the town of Cumberland, RI sites, Friends of the Cumberland Public Library, cooking collection and the Monastery (the building that houses the library). In addition, there is a kids page, program information page, new books and new videos section, links to other libraries, including HELIN and the Library of Congress, museum passes and WebPac. | There are an abundance of links included on the site. You can link to Providence for the Infotrac Search Base and eLibrary Service. There is an EBSCOMag. Search. Other links include the archives, assignment information for local schools, book discussion group, JMS bookstore, cancellations, story time information and Encarta. The JMS reference link includes encyclopedias and Encarta maps. There are holiday links for Halloween and Thanksgiving and a link to Whitehousekids.gov. To find out what's going on in Rhode Island you can use the following links: Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence Children's Museum, Blackstone Valley Tourism, RhodeMap and the Stormfax Foliage Guide. |
How can you tell? Is the scope described
|
The scope is not described anywhere on the site. There is no FAQ or help file. There is a "helpful sites we've found" link, but no description about why the sites were chosen. | The scope is not described anywhere on the site. There is no FAQ section, but you can e mail them at [email protected]. They do not write about why they chose to include certain information in the site. |
| How does this site compare to similar information elsewhere? | This site is set up in the same fashion as many other library sites I observed. They make use of many quality links to assist a person who is looking for specific information or doing research. | In comparing this site to other library sites, I found that they have included an abundance of valuable information, but the pages are very busy. |
| How is this database structured? | The use of links navigate you through the site. | This site utilizes links and a pull down menu on the home page. |
| Are there links provided to other sources of information on this same topic? Is it clear how these links are selected? | It is not clear how the links used were chosen. | It is unclear how the links were selected. |
| I couldn't get into the magazine index when I tried. In order to access certain links on the Reference page, you need to enter your library card code. When I tried I couldn't get access. I sent an email to the reference section. You must have a card that was issued at the Cumberland Public Library to use specific reference services. | Yes. I didn't have any trouble using this site. |
Accuracy
| How accurate is this information? | accurate | accurate |
| How can you tell? | The links seem to include information from respectable sources and I didn't find any discrepancies. | The links to other services like government agencies seem to be reputable. |
| When statistics and other factual data are presented is it cited so that one can verify it? | no | no |
| Are tables, charts, and graphs clear and easy to understand? | No tables or charts were included. | There were no tables or charts on the site. |
| Is there any bibliography? | no | no |
| 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
|
Cumberland is listed as a nonprofit organization | Burrillville is sponsored by Amazon.com and doesn't show the primary domain. |
Is the subject controversial? If so,
|
The subject is not controversial.
The site is free from advertising. |
The subject is not controversial.
The site is not free from advertising, because the sponsor is Amazon.com. |
| Is the information free from advertising? | yes | no |
Currancy
Are any of the following dates provided?
|
Creation date: 2001
Post date: not provided Revision date: 10/9/01 |
The creation date and post date are not provided, even when I went into the Properties for the site. The last revision date was 10/4/01 |
| When was this site last updated? How can you tell? Is there any information on how often the site is updated? | Updated on 10/9/01.
There is no information on how often the site is updated. |
Updated on 10/16/01.
There is no information on how often the site is updated. |
| What was updated? | It does not state what was updated. | They do not include this information on the site. |
| How does the creation of the database stay current? | The site stays current when they update it. | This site stays current when they update it. |
| 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? | No, generally the information is up to date. | No, the information is up to date, as far as holiday information and school assignments. |
| How stable is this site, its address and its information? Is it here today and gone (or moved) tomorrow? | For the few weeks that I have been researching this site, I have been satisfied. The site has been available each time I needed. | The JMS site appears to stable. I have been using it for over a year. While I find it too busy aesthetically, I can always do what I need to do and find the information I need. |
Arrangement and Format
| How easy is it to find and use this site? | It was very easy to find. I just did a search of Libraries. The site is easy to navigate through with the use of links. | I knew the URL for this library because it is my town's library and I use it often. Navigating through the links, it is easy to use this site. However, it is not an easy URL for people to remember, especially students. |
| How convenient is it? | convenient | It is not very convenient for people to remember the address. |
| How well-organized? | This is a well organized site. | In my opinion, the home page is too busy, but the site is pretty well organized. |
| How quickly can you usually get to this site? Get around the site? | Getting to this site only takes a few seconds. | You can easily get to the site in a few seconds. |
| How appropriate is the format of the database for its intended audience? | The format works well and it is easy for people to use the links provided. | The format of the database works well for the intended audience, which is the general public. |
| Does the information seem out of date? | No, the information seems up to date. | No, the information is up to date, especially the holiday information and the school assignments page. However, the bookmarks link hasn't been updated since January 2001. |
| Are there any hardware, software, or multimedia requirements? | no | no |
Design Considerations
| Does it function well with different browsers? | I had no trouble with Netscape Explorer. | I use Netscape Explorer and did not have a problem. |
| Is too much filler used? | No, pictures are used sparingly. | Yes, I think they could use some more white space. |
| Is it obvious when you leave to a different site? | Yes, each site is identified and you can tell when you enter another site. When you go to a site like Roger Williams Zoo, you need to use the back key on your browser to get back to the library. | Yes, it is obvious when you leave to a different site because they are all identified by a heading on the top of the page. |
Layout Considerations
| Enough white space? | There is enough white space and the use of graphics works well for the organization of the pages. | No, they could have less graphics and more white space to make it easier on the eye. |
| Overdone styles? | No, I found the style of the page tasteful and easy to look at. | Yes, the book graphic they use at the top and sides of the page could be muted a little. |
| Too many links? | No, because of the organization of the site, it woks well. You can also go their "helpful sites we've found" and find many other links there. | While I do think there are not too many links, I would have organized them differently. In my opinion, a library web site requires many links because patrons go to the library to locate information about various subjects. |
| Links with too many words? | no | no |
| Textual descriptions too brief or too long? | no | no |
| Use of color? | There is good use of color and I like the fact that they have kept the background a light color. It is easier to read that way. | While the background is a light color, I do not like the other colors they have chosen for their graphics. |
Graphics
| Do the graphics relate to the surrounding text? | yes | yes |
| Do the graphics provide important information? | Yes, some of the graphics are links to other sites. | Yes, you can use the graphics as links to other sites. |
| Does the size of the graphics relate to the page content? | The graphics are sized appropriately for the page content. | The size of most of the graphics are appropriate, except for one picture that could have been larger because they asked people to identify Boy Scouts from 1956. |
| Are pictures missing? | no | no |
| What is the quality of the graphics? | The overall quality is basic. | The overall quality is good, they even have a couple of flowing flags. The icon to get back home is a book with turning pages. |
| How long does it take for the graphics to display? | The graphics are displayed in approximately 15 seconds. | The graphics are displayed in less than 15 seconds. |
| Are textual descriptions of graphics provided when a text-based browser is used? | yes | yes |
| Are the textual descriptions appropriate? | yes | yes |
Help Information
| Is “help” provided? | Yes, [email protected]/ | Yes, they have a link: [email protected] |
| Is “help” information easy to find? | Yes, they have an "email us your questions" on the home page | Yes, it is on the home page. |
| How helpful is the “help” information? | There is no on line help | There is no on line help |
| If “help” isn't provided, should it be provided? | NA | NA |
Feedback Information
| Are opportunities for feedback provided? | Yes, to the email address for both sites | |
| Are feedback opportunities easy to find? | Yes, email links | Yes, email links |
Overall Feel and Look
| How well organized is the site? | Overall, this is a well organized site and I had no trouble navigating through. | While the home page is a little busy, the site is well organized and easy to navigate through. |
| Are the pages consistent from page to page? | The web site flows nicely. There are no graphics that are consistent from page to page except for the back home link. | The home graphic and the book graphic are consistent from page to page. |
| How easy is it to locate important information? | easy | easy |
| On a scale of 1 to 10 (1=poor, 10=superior), rate each web site. | 8 | 8 |