Web Site Mission Statement

The OSU Libraries' web site supports the teaching, research and service activities of The Ohio State University students, faculty and staff by providing access to a wide variety of high quality information resources including those developed locally. The site organizes these resources to facilitate efficient use and easy access by a diverse audience. The site extends access to the expertise, services and unique collections that comprise our complex library system.

Adopted January 7, 1999

Guiding Principles

1. The Web site mission statement is meant to guide those responsible for page creation and maintenance in making design and content decisions related to audience, scope, and priorities.

2. These guidelines are for pages representing departments and libraries that are part of the OSUL system. Generally such pages should exist beneath the following url: library.osu.edu/sites

3. The head of each unit is ultimately responsible for the content of the unit site and should be aware of and approve original and substantially revised pages.

4. The Libraries' Web Services Committee serves as a board of review for OSUL Web pages to ensure consistency with design and policy guidelines developed by the Committee. Any concerns will be discussed with the departments or individuals responsible for the pages. Unresolved issues will be referred to the Assistant Director for Public Services.

5. Library sites should be in compliance with the general University guidelines.

Requirements

1. Page creators and maintainers should insure accessibility of their pages by a potentially diverse audience including those with varying disabilities. See Ohio State's official Web Accessibility Policy. For additional guidelines and tutorials, see the Web Accessibility Center (WAC) site.

2. Pages should include a page title tag <TITLE> as well as meta-tags (description and keywords), to facilitate indexing and discovery by University and Library search engines.

3. Each site should provide the following content either on the top level page, or linked prominently from the top level page:
   • Name of the library, clearly identified as an OSU Library
   • Address, phone number and e-mail contact for the library
   • A link to the OSUL home page [/]: http://library.osu.edu

4. Library unit Web pages should have a button or link on each page to return users to that unit's home page.

5. Assign a primary contact for the site. Include a link for contacting this person. The contact should respond to user comments and questions regarding the Web site and should regularly check links and information for accuracy and timeliness.

6. Content and design of pages is work done in the scope of one's library responsibilities. As "work for hire," copyright of the page should be attributed to the Ohio State University.

7. Page creators and maintainers should verify that materials or designs used on their pages are in compliance with copyright laws (i.e. used by permission or free of copyright restrictions).

8. Digital Exhibitions must follow Exhibits policy at: http://library.osu.edu/staff/exhibits/policy.html

Recommendations for Good Practice

1. Use the machines available in both OSU libraries and computer labs to test your pages with different versions of major browsers and on different operating systems (Windows and Macintosh). Be prepared to make changes.

2. Test against HTML validators to ensure that tagging is correct. A validator is a web site that will run a check against your URL to look for such things as bad HTML tags, spelling errors, broken links, etc.

3. Use simple file naming conventions (all lower case, brief file names, etc.) for ease in detecting errors, and making changes.

4. Use colors and layout that are readable and may be easily printed by users.

5. Images should be used to enhance meaning and increase readability of the page. Avoid irrelevant graphics, buttons, corporate logos, etc.

6. Interactive forms are available on the OSUL server. Fill out the request form on the IT web site and select "Libraries Webmaster" from the drop down menu at the bottom of the form and someone will contact you.

7. Title bars used on the central site may be used by any library unit. Fill out the request form on the IT web site and select "Libraries Webmaster" from the drop down menu at the bottom of the form and someone will contact you.

8. Some University/Library photographs are available for use. Fill out the request form on the IT web site and select "Libraries Webmaster" from the drop down menu at the bottom of the form and someone will contact you.

Guidelines for specific web pages:

Libraries and collections (http://library.osu.edu/libs/)

• List library by its generic name with a note from its official name.
• List libraries with a separate physical location and separately housed collection with specific staff dedicated to its management and service.
  approved by Web Services Committee 4/28/05

This document was created and is maintained by the OSUL Web Services Committee
Last revised 10/29/2002