Weaving a Library Web: A Guide to Developing Children's Websites

Citation

Cronau, D.A. (2005), "Weaving a Library Web: A Guide to Developing Children's Websites", Online Information Review, Vol. 29 No. 5, pp. 569-570. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520510629007

This book provides a detailed description of subjects and issues involved in the design, implementation and maintenance of library internet sites designed for children. This is, thankfully, not a technical manual, but rather a practical listing of the strategies for developing an internet site written by award‐winning children's web developers and librarians.

The books starts from the four pillars of children's librarianship: readers' advisory, homework reference help, programming, and outreach. It walks the reader through practical suggestions to:

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  Create appropriate sites for different ages.

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  Develop a project plan, including an “approach to success” document.

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  Map details with storyboards and flowcharts.

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  Make user experiences easy and fun using mascots, navigation tools and downloads.

The book includes anecdotal observations and documented facts with bibliographic references regarding children's learning habits and environments, a beneficial feature for library managers, site designers and administrators who might not be trained educators.

The book evaluates materials, including internet materials, according to set criteria. Suggestions are made that address these criteria, encouraging thought about age‐appropriate usability, navigability, audience, accessibility and scope. Issues regarding children's privacy and online safety, functioning as a team of designers, engaging young users, and site maintenance are major areas of guidance provided.

It has been suggested that this book could be used as a beginner's first stop and as a web master's companion, and both are fair suggestions. It is uncomplicated and easy to read, yet not simplistic.

While the sample web pages included might be considered a bit too small, the text is well‐worded and clearly printed and includes sample documents and hands‐on advice on technical issues – usability testing, dealing with privacy, monitoring, maintaining, promoting the site, testing for functionality and using meta tags. The small but valuable bibliography includes web sites as well as books and periodical articles. The index is extensive and useful in pinpointing readers’ current needs or interests.

This is an excellent introduction to web designed for anyone who wants to create web sites for children, as it is broad in its appeal. It would be useful for teachers and education students, public and school‐based librarians, teacher‐librarians, administrators, school management, public and school media specialists and web services personnel.