Week 2

This week, the assigned reading in Creating a Web Site by MacDonald is chapters 3 and 4.

Chapter 3 covers such topics as choosing the correct domain name, registering the name, and getting web space (p. 57-66). This is extremely important and MacDonald makes it clear that choosing the correct name can make or break a business: "if you're starting a new business, try to choose your business name and your domain name at the same time so they match. If you already have a business name, settle on a URL that has an extra word or two...This name may not be as snappy...but it avoids the inevitable confusion of creating a whole new identity" (p. 59). My question about this is what to do if you are trying to use your name as the URL? What if your name is taken? You could always use initials or first initial and last name, but this requires some creativity.

Chapter 4 addresses different types of web page editors and offers a brief introduction about them. I appreciate MacDonald's presentation of free web page editors (p. 86-89) because these things can get really expensive. Ultimately, though, I think that it is worth the money to save the frustration and just get DreamWeaver. I think MacDonald would agree, because that is the program he recommends for its simplicity (p. 90). Here is where MacDonald's chapter 4 becomes really helpful: he offers a step by step presentation about how to begin designing a web page. For web novices like myself, this is very useful instruction.

This week's websites for review are: W3C and W3Schools Online Web Tutorials.

W3C: http://www.w3.org/

The website describes W3C as an "international community that develops standards to ensure the long-term growth of the web" (homepage). If you click on the "Web Design and application" link, there is a lot of information about web design. I am most interested in the two sections "graphics" and "internationalization" because I don't know much about graphics and I am just interested in all of the information architecture required for making a website usable for an international audience.

The "graphics" link notes that the Web is not just about information but also about creative expression. In terms of someone addressing web design from a library and information science perspective, I think this is noteworthy because graphics may be overlooked in this type of information-focused area. However, graphics offer a lot of potential for quick information and are attention grabbing. "Internationalization" focuses on making the web site accessible for multiple audiences worldwide. Interestingly, graphics can be used to increase the international accessibility of websites.

Overall, W3C is a very useful tool for anyone looking into creating a website. There are some great instructional opportunities and links.

The next site for review this week, W3Schools Tutorials:
http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp

This site is amazing because it offers free web design tutorials! This type of resource is truly important for the ever-growing web designer audience. As someone who is trying to become an information professional, I am glad to know that there are so many informative web design opportunities online. I clicked on the "CSS Tutorials" and found it great that they make style sheets so simple through the tutorial and even a quiz. There are also tutorials about changing CSS colors and other important design features. Check this site out if you are interested in learning more!