Research: Content: Types of Content
There are many types of content that can be included in your website. How do you choose? Consider essential, special, dynamic, interactive, and duplicate content elements.
Essential Content
Start with the basics. What piece of data are essential? In many cases people start with things such as their policies, procedures, center or classroom rules, and other administrative stuff. However ask yourself, will these pieces of data bring patrons back to your site? If not, be sure to include other information that will bring return visitors. If it's a school site, maybe you'll post homework, standards-based activities, or student projects. If it's a library site, maybe you'll share local events and information of interest.
Go to Branson School Library. Which materials would you consider essential?
Special Content
Consider those things that will make your website unique. Why will people from your community as well as from around the world flock to your pages? What unique content do you have to offer? Maybe you'll work with the drama teacher or local playhouse to develop an archive of original skits or reader's theatre materials. How about a virtual field trip to the desert, farm, or river? Get community members and students involved with content development.
Go to PhotosWest. It's a partnership between the Denver Art Museum, Colorado Historical Society, and Denver Public Library to create a collection of historical photographs.
Go to Columbus Metropolitan Library Local Databases. These databases were developed by the librarians at the CML.
Dynamic Content
People return to websites that are constantly posting new ideas and information. This may include new web resources, current local events, or updated materials. As a rule of thumb, your website should contain at least five new content objects or pages per month. In addition, you should develop a plan to enhance or update pages too. Think about how your website will grow with this type of attention!
Consider incorporating elements that will evolve over time. What are your teachers reading? Maybe you'll maintain a list of teacher-recommended books and movies. How about an oral history page that contains interviews with the elders from the community? Each month a new person could be highlighted. Maybe you could focus on library promotions such as resources related to banned book week or Asian-American month.
Go to Methuen Media Center. They provide a wide range of pathfinders for use by students, teachers, and the community.
Go to Great Neck School Library and notice the up-to-date information such as newsletters and "what's new".
Interactive Content
Get your users involved with your website. Ask students to submit their poetry or drawings. Get library patrons involved with online discussions or posting audio book reviews. Include online registration forms and a guestbook for comments. Conduct periodical surveys online to gather data from web library users. Post interesting Internet adventures on interactive learning activities. Bring your website alive through opening a two-way communication channel.
Go to Lawrence High School Library and notice their web-based forms.
Go to Marathon Middle / High School for book reviews written by students.
Duplicate Content
Although you'll want to make your website unique, many of your resources may duplicate those found in other places. For example, most library websites contain a list of popular online reference resources. Although you may choose to develop your own link lists and pathfinders, consider linking to the materials developed by others. For example, you consider linking to Library Spot or Teacher Tap: Online References. Consider how you can make Internet resources and links you own by personalizing materials for your library.
Choose one of the following sites. Look for the five types of content described above:
Greece Athena Media Center from New York
LakeView Hight School Library from Michigan
Libraries @ Lovett
Multnomah County Library in Oregon
Develop a priority list of needs related to your website. What are the essential information elements that will contribute to the success of your website? What are the special elements that will make your website unique? What are the flexible or expanding elements that will bring users back to your website?