Re: Other WebBridge libraries

[Bob Duncan <duncanr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 07:29 PM 12/15/2003 -0500, gde wrote:
>I was wondering if there is a list somewhere of all the WebBridge 
>libraries?  I
>want to look to see what you all have created for your WebBridge Icon (your
>Additional Resources button)?  I've been working on mine...but I really 
>don't have
>the icon the way I want it yet...and was looking for ideas.  So far I've 
>worked on
>a few ideas...check out my test pac at http://wncln.wncln.org:2080...


I don't know anything about a list of all WebBridge libraries, but here's 
what we decided to do about the icon.

We talked about the issue for awhile and decided that the simplest route 
was to avoid trying to use descriptive terminology (e.g., "Additional/more 
resources"), stick with calling WebBridge "WebBridge" (and use the icons 
supplied), and concentrate our efforts on marketing what the term means 
among our user population (the bridge metaphor goes a long way).  Note that 
libraries which use SFX tend to call it SFX, and users tend to know what 
that means.

We use the small WebBridge image (on our system it's webbridge_small.gif) 
as the link in the WebOPAC and wherever else it's possible to specify an 
image link;  we use the text "WebBridge" where an image cannot be 
placed.  We also include the larger WebBridge image (map.gif) in our custom 
windows.  This strategy appears to have worked;  usage and awareness of 
WebBridge is a lot higher than any of us thought it would be during the 
first semester of use---students and faculty tend to remember things that 
save them time, so I guess you could argue that it doesn't matter what you 
call it.

As far as designing your own icon, some advice:
-  having the same icon in your WebOPAC as in remote origins helps with 
"brand recognition";
-  what looks good in your WebOPAC may not look quite as good in a remote 
origin;
-  remote origins tend to have size restrictions for the image you supply;
-  if your custom icon matches the rest of your WebOPAC images, it may go 
unnoticed;
-  avoid using underscores in filenames for images you provide for remote 
origins---some vendors URL-encode the filenames which can cause problems 
when serving them.

Bob Duncan


~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Robert E. Duncan
Systems Librarian
David Bishop Skillman Library
Lafayette College
Easton, PA  18042
duncanr@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.library.lafayette.edu/