Semi-Annual Review – Cleaning Up Your Website

Follow this link for a checklist of items to review on the backend of your webpage.

Website Review Checklist – Backend.docx

Backend review:

LEANWI supports the functionality of websites, however, it is helpful for each library, as much as possible, to take ownership and keep tabs backend settings on their own site. If you have questions or concerns, please bring them to our attention by emailing websitehelp@librarieswin.org.

Appearance

Themes

Note: Auto-updating for themes is a new feature and hasn’t been enabled on every website. It is helpful if you are able to turn on and review that auto-updates enabled to improve website security.

• Themes are up-to-date and auto-update is enabled.

Menus

• Menu items are up-to-date (can also be checked on front end)

Plugins

Note: LEANWI makes every effort to review websites and ensure plugins are set to auto-update. However, it is possible for this setting to revert and need to be re-enabled.

• Plugins are up-to-date and auto-update is enabled.
• Unused/outdated plugins are deactivated and removed.

Users

• Users list is accurate for those currently using your site.

Settings

General Settings

• Your site has a site icon (if this is missing, send email to websitehelp@librarieswin.org)
• Administration email address is set to webmaster@ifls.lib.wi.us
• Timezone set to Chicago
• Date format is set to first option, “F j, Y” (month, date, year)
• Time format is set to first option, “g:i a” (hour:minute am/pm)
• Week starts on: Sunday

Discussion

• Commenting is disabled on your site.

Follow this link for a checklist of items to review on the front end (public) side of your webpage:

Website Review Checklist – Front end.docx

Front End review:

Library open hours, contact information, etc.

• Check header to ensure the following are accurate (especially if library changes hours seasonally)
  • Open hours
  • Phone/fax number
  • Address
  • Email address contact
  • Social media
• Check footer to ensure the following are accurate (especially if library changes hours seasonally)
  • Open hours
  • Phone/fax number
  • Address
  • Email address contact
  • Google map (if included)
  • Social media

Menus

• Menu items are up-to-date and all links work. If you need assistance with changes, send an email to websitehelp@librarieswin.org

Homepage

Post slider/library news

• Is content of post slider or library news section timely and accurate?

Library calendar

• Is your library calendar/events up-to-date?

Resources, services, headings

• Are all online resource items, library services, or other information included on your homepage still accurate and relevant? (Example: Gale Courses is no longer offered by WVLS, NYT no longer offered by NWLS and need to be removed/replaced)
• Is promotional information up-to-date? (Example: annual report information, “Library Love Story,” etc.)

Book carousels

• Are carousels displaying new/featured items in the library catalog working and up-to-date and relevant?

Broken link check

• Take time to click on every link on your home page. Do they all work?

Contact forms

• Test contact forms to make sure email responses are working (e.g., newsletter signup)
• Make sure any call-to-actions are updated with relevant and timely info (e.g., building campaigns, fundraisers)

Clutter removal

• What is the visual appeal and navigation of your website? Does it just “look nice?” Is it easy to find featured items without excessive scrolling?

Remainder of website

List subpages

• Make a list of the other pages on your website and do the following:
  • Check for relevance and accuracy of information (does it match information elsewhere on your site – e.g., is the cost of a photocopy listed as $0.10 in one place and $0.25 in another?)
  • Broken link check – check all links to make sure they still work and go to a relevant place.
  • Check contact forms are still working

• Auto-updating Plugins and Themes
• Reviewing and removing website user accounts
• Website menus

Global Items

• Changing the information (hours, contact) in the top bar of my header (Header Elements)
• Changing items in my main menu (Primary Drop Down Menu)
• Changing information in my website footer (address, business hours)

 Homepage

• Post slider
  • Content up to date
  • Changing the number of posts in a post slidert
• Library event calendar
• Resources, services, etc.
  • If you find outdated information and need help updating, please email us: websitehelp@librarieswin.org
• Book carousels
  • Note: NWLN libraries will need to email helpdesk@northernwaters.org to request a search showcase for a carousel
• Clutter removal (does my website look good? – a bigger project)
  • Journey mapping – analyzing website design
  • Thinking about a website makeover? email us! websitehelp@librarieswin.org
  • Tip: look for other websites you like. What do you like about it? How might we incorporate that into your site?