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LibGuides 2: Training for Authors: Guidelines

Key Concepts

  • Meet the users' main need.
  • Reuse content whenever possible.
  • Be concise.
  • Be consistent.
  • Use plenty of whitespace.
  • Use relevant images.
  • Think about how it will look on smaller devices.

UofL Libraries' Guidelines

  1. Color Scheme: The Web Management Team has created a color scheme for the guides which is automatically applied.
  2. Friendly URL: when a guide is published the author has a chance to assign a “Friendly” URL. The naming convention should follow the name of the guide. Examples: COMM111_Johnson or theatre_and_performing_arts. A friendly URL needs to be applied to every page of every guide. HINT: you need to assign the friendly URL for the guide as a whole before you can assign friendly URLs to each individual page. 
  3. Put lists of online resources in Link Boxes instead of Text Boxes. Link Boxes automatically:
    1. Arrange resources into bulleted lists
    2. Put descriptions of the resources on a separate line or in a pop-up box (depending on the type of Link Box.)
    3. Track statistics on link usage.
    4. Allow global changes to links.
  4. Profiles
    1. Need to be completed prior to publishing any guides.
    2. Must include contact information: email, phone number, office location.
    3. A profile box must appear on at least one page of every guide.
    4. Should include a professional-looking photo of you or your library. If you don’t have one, please contact the Head of Web Services.
  5. Tabs
    1. Standard title case.
    2. Short titles – preferably one or two words.
    3. No wrapping. Viewed in Preview, there should be only one row of tabs.
    4. Sub-tabs need to be linked from the body of the page.
  6. Boxes
    1. Standard title case.
    2. Titles on boxes should not wrap onto a second line.
  7. Break up long lists. If you have more than 7 or 8 resources in a single content box think about how it can divided into more than one box.
  8. Break up long boxes of text with bullets, numbered lists, sub-headings, bolded key terms, and other techniques.
  9. Make use of relevant, high quality images.