There is still plenty of content to be added to the site, and some brand new features will be added over the coming months that we are working on in the background.

We have had some fantastic feedback from you… our customers about the look, layout and structure of the new site, and also some ideas on how we can continue to fine tune the site to make it even easier for you to use.

If you have some feedback of your own leave us a comment using the form below!

– The Web Development Team

Here is just some of the feedback we have addressed:

“I think there should be a more prominent ’search the catalogue’ link on the home page - suggest that it is included in the main menu on the left-hand side”
There is now links to the catalogue in the main menu, as well as the menu along the top of the screen. You can also search the catalogue directly from any page within the site using the search box in the right-hand column.

“The only thing I can suggest is to make the site more colourful”
We are still working on adding more pictures and splashes of colour around the site wherever we can. To put it in song… We are going to “wash that city grey away and paint it with a country day!” - For all the music buffs, that is from Colour My World by Petula Clark

“The community languages could be put near the top as this is a large feature of our community.”
We have simplified the menu structure a little better, meaning community languages now features closer to the top. We have also been working on, and are continuing to work on adding more content in our community languages.

“I don’t know if its just my computer but could the page be larger and take up the screen more”
The site is deliberately setup this way for optimal viewing on any of us who are using a screen resolution of 800 X 600. As a result on larger screens this will mean there will be some bare margins on the left and right hand side of the screen. We have been undertaking continuing analysis of visitors to the current website and their computer settings, and still feel it is important we support 800 X 600 Resolution

“When i clicked on the link to the Kids page and it felt like i was being taken away to a whole new page, even the left hand side menu had changed and it didn’t feel like you were still on the library page”
We understand this, and are currently working on redeveloping the template for the kids page so it will very closly resemble the remainder of the site, but will have kids faces along the top and be more colourful (while still keeping the overall same look and feel of the main site).

“When I clicked on the the tabs it took me back to the old pages. Guess its not all done.”
We have been working so hard on the website that the catalogue has been a little neglected.. but as soon as we have the website sorted we will begin working on updating the catalogue to fit in with the rest of the site so it integrates seamlessly. So keep an eye out!

“Have you considered online memberships?”
We have! You can join the library by clicking the ‘join us’ tab at the top of the screen!

“I love your use of delicious”
Thanks! We are working on intergrating delicious bookmarks even more into our site. FYI our weblinks section has been moved to the eLibrary section, so all our online resources are together. Delicious links are now also being better integrated into our eBook pages… for a sample take a look at the science eBook Shelf!

“Under the Ask Us heading, have the collection links in the body of the page, as well as the sidebar - took me a minute to realise there was something else there”
We have simplified the menu structure and moved information about to places where it is both more accessible and also located with other information that may also be relevant. Therefore we have got rid of ‘ask us’ and moved its content to both the community languages section and the eLibrary section.

“your MySpace and Facebook pages are all awesome”
Thankyou - don’t forget to become a fan/friend on Facebook and MySpace to be kept up to date will the latest upcoming events and news from your local Brimbank Library.

Please remember that the website is still in development-

• some pages will be incomplete, for example the Kids & Teen pages have only basic content. The content will be developed further by the Childrens & Youth Services team. These pages will have their own headers featuring photos of children & teens
• multilingual pages are limited as we are awaiting translations. To see an example of how they will work, go to LOCATIONS/ Keilor Village & click on the Tieng Viet link on the top right of the page. Content will be available in 11 community languages
• the icons on the eLibrary page will be replaced with photo icons
• the look & feel of the online catalogue will change to be in keeping with the new website look when we go live

Follow the link below to read about some of the new features…..

Check out these features:

• each library has its own webpage with a virtual tour & google map, also its own facebook page
• programs & events are listed on the events calendar & promoted on the random news item embedded in the header of the homepage as well as on banners on relevant pages. Recurring events only have to be added once
• the Good Reads page is now an interactive book blog where patrons can post short reviews & comments. Titles from the Good Reads blog are featured randomly in the Quick Pick section on the homepage. We can add as many titles as we like to this page from our booklists & update as often as required
• there is a search the catalogue link on every page, & also on the facebook pages
• on the ASK US page, the Ask A Librarian section features live chat reference help ( to operate at at selected times only)
• the ePolls feature can be used to seek patron feedback on selected issues
• the eLibrary will allow patrons to browse virtual bookshelves of eBooks, online databases & selected websites
• accessibility features will include enlargeable text size, an A to Z index for easier navigation, alternative text for images, & is designed to comply with W3C standards for use with screen reading equipment

For the second of our feature highlights we look at the new and improved ‘Good Reads’ section. This replaces the ‘Good Reads for you’ section on our current website, and is there to help advise you on some of the latest titles that we and other library users have found to be - well - a good read.

The new web interface offers a whole new level of interaction with our ‘Good Reads’ section. This is putting the power in YOUR hands, and makes YOU part of the advising process.

Not only can you read reviews of titles available at the library, but YOU can now also provide comments on existing reviews (like a blog). YOU can also post your own review if you have read something fantastic and want to share it with the world.

Check it out on the preview of our new site, then comment here to tell us what you think!

While you are there don’t forget to check out all the other new features and improvements we are making.

The new-look library website will integrate the powers and functionality of Google Calendars.

The advantages of this include:

• Being able to access and find upcoming events at the library not only through the library website, but also through the Google Calendar search engine.
• If you have your own Google Calendar, you can subscribe to the library calendar so our upcoming events will also be added to your own calendar.
• If you are a user of the iGoogle custom Google homepage, you can add the library calendar of events to your iGoogle homepage.

The new calendar of events also allows you to view the calendar in the format the best suits you… that may be in a list (agenda format), or a weekly or monthly calendar view! You can change between all these quickly and easily with the touch of a button!

See an event you are interested in, get more details with a single mouse click!

Check out these screenshots:

Want to see it for yourself? Have a sneak peek at http://demo.brimbanklibraries.vic.gov.au, and give us your feedback.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Facebook

To find us on Facebook simply do a search for the name of your library. eg ‘Sunshine Library’.

Or click the link to the Facebook page for your library below:

• Deer Park Library
• Keilor Village Library
• St Albans Library
• Sunshine Library
• Sydenham Library

To keep up-to-date with us on facebook remember to click the become a fan link.

MySpace

Visit our MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/brimbanklibraries

Remember to send us a friend request to be kept updated of new events as they occur!