Important Features of a Library Website

When designing a library website I think there are a number of key features that should be included to ensure that the website meets the needs of its patrons and correctly serves the purpose for which it was created.

Library websites need:

• They need to be user friendly and attractive, while its not essential for the website to look good I think it adds to the user experience and encourages patrons to use the online service.
• They need to include all of the relevant information in order to answer any questions that patrons might have.
• The pages need to be set out logically in order for patrons to be able to find the information that they require in regard to the library collection or fines or booking fees, etc.
• Access to the catalogue needs to be provided so that patrons can search for the book they want without having to physically visit the library. I think this service is essential in this era of modern technology.
• They need to include relevant news for library patrons to provide that window into the community and generate interest, get people involved.
• There must be contact options because people will always have something to complain about, haha, but more importantly they may have questions or may not be able to find the information that they require and so they will need to contact library staff.
• Different language options reflecting the demographic are important because someone might need to know which languages are included in the library collection, but also a patron accessing the site might speak a language other than english and require information. 
• I also think it is important these days for a library website to include social media access, and I think it is important for libraries to have a social media presence.

The above points were written with local public libraries in mind, but the requirements are mostly the same for academic and special libraries (in my opinion).