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You should answer the following preliminary questions before starting work on your proposed Web project:
Once you have answered these questions, consult any of these resources available over the Web addressing "style" and design:
In addition, you should consult the Library of Congress World Wide Web Style Guide [http://www.loc.gov/loc/webstyle/] for guidance on placing your information on the Library's Web site.
Usability AND User-Centered Design (UCD) are approaches that attempt to design ease of use into the total user experience. UCD is now considered the key to a successful Web site. UCD involves multidisciplinary teamwork, methods to acquire user input, and converting user input into design. Some useful links are offered below:
In addition to general usability, the topic of "accessibility" is also critical to making your Web content avaiable to all. Library of Congress pages must be accessible to all users, including those with dissabilities requiring special browsers or equipment to use Web pages. Some accessibility links are offered below:
You will need to think things through before you create any HTML files. A good way to start is to create a mock-up of your proposed home page using your favorite wordprocessing program. Compose the mock-up, underlining text you wish to have act as the hypertext link. Indicate where any graphics will be placed as well as alternate file types (i.e., WordPerfect documents, Adobe Portable Documents Files (PDF), etc.). Also, indicate where you intend to link to existing or new HTML files on LC Web or elsewhere on the Internet.
View an example of a Home Page Mock-Up
When capturing URLs for other Library of Congress Web pages, you should note the following:
** Note: For more information on making direct links to bills, Congressional Record searches, documents, and Index topics, etc. see Direct Links to THOMAS Documents. [http://thomas.loc.gov/home/example.html]
When linking to servers outside of the Library of Congress, ALWAYS retain the port number when given. The above rules only apply to files on Library of Congress servers.
If you are a staff member in Library Services, you must submit an approval form called the World Wide Web Home Page Proposal Form. This form enables you to gain approval for your mock-up from the division level all the way up to the director level, as appropriate. In addition, your proposal will receive a brief technical review to determine the need for assistance from ITS (programming or graphics design work), user accounts, HTML training or assistance from the Automation Planning and Liaison Office (APLO) to install Web software on your PC. Once the form has been approved, a copy is sent back to you and the original stays on file in the Network Development and MARC Standards Office (NDMSO). Copies of the WWW Home Page Proposal Form are available from NDMSO or from the Library Services Home Page [http://www.loc.gov/staff/ls/].
In advance of writing any HTML, you will also need to devise file names for your new home page and all new sub-pages you will be creating. This preparation will save you time in the long run. You should also plan file names for all graphic images you intend to include on your page or to link to.
Since both Windows 95, NT and Macintosh accept filenames longer than the for DOS limitation of 8 character filenames with a 3 character extension, it is best to keep the filename exactly the same in your local development environment as they will be on the server. Just be aware that UNIX does differentiate between uppercase and lowercase letters. It is advisable to use only lowercase letters in your Web filenames making things simpler for the user.
On the Library of Congress Web servers, all HTML files should use the .html extension.
Note: the LC WWW Style Guide is currently being revised (October 16, 2000).
HTML Tutorials (Dave Raggatt,
W3C)
[http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/Guide/]
Library of Congress