A study of SADC University library web page designers

Abstract

Abstract provided by author:

Describes how university library web sites may turn the users off if poorly designed and organised, and in the process fail to communicate the message to the intended audience. Examines the importance of web technology skills and knowledge of coding languages, such as HTML, Perl and Java Script in the web page design process. The study attempts to find out if the SADC university library web masters have the relevant skills and competencies to design a university library web site. Surveys the navigation and accessibility of SADC university library websites and compares them with other university library web sites. Shows that the lack of standards in the design of university library sites may have resulted in the different approaches and employment of designers from different professional backgrounds by SADC university libraries and concludes that engaging professional web page designers may result in the expected standards of university web sites