I chose to explore Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries website for the third library visit assignment. I found this library in an article by Wanda Kay Brown as she discussed how library workers adapted during the early months of the COVID shut down. It warmed my heart as I read that the reference librarians at Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public libraries were encouraging patrons to schedule 30 minute virtual appointments for help with a variety of issues, like finding a job or applying for a small business loan (Kay Brown, 2020, para 6). A friend of mine was struggling to try to navigate the process of applying for a small business loan on her own. I know how reassuring and helpful it would’ve been if she would have an opportunity to work with someone during what was an incredibly difficult time. I knew I wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about what services Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries offer to its community.

Overview

When you first arrive on CHPL’s website, numerous helpful links are available, without having to scroll down. On the left side, there are quick links to stream and download digital resources, research databases, their late-fine free policy, voting information, and ask a librarian. In the middle of the page, there is a link to their blog and a headline that states “Don’t Fall for a Boring Autumn with Help from CHPL!” (CHPL, 2021a). On the right hand side of the page, there is a list of upcoming events for the current week and a link to all the scheduled events. Along the top of the page, there are links to the hours and locations, help, log in to patron’s account, search, books and media available through the CHPL, services available, and upcoming events. As you scroll down there is information for construction project updates and information about libraries that offer COVID vaccines and test kits. Further down, there are links highlighting both physical and digital materials and featured research databases like CPHL’s digital library, Consumer Reports, and Ancestry Library Edition, which can be accessed virtually using a CHPL issued library card. At the bottom of the webpage, there are usual links: information about the services provided, about the library, and how to support the library. The design of this website appears to be very user-friendly and pleasing to the eye. While the search bar is clearly visible at the top of the webpage, almost everything I might be looking for at a library is easily found on their main webpage.

I have highlighted some of the information that I found on CHPL’s main website in the bullet points listed below. If you are interested in a more in depth look at what CHPL offers its patrons, feel free to read my whole presentation about Cincainnati and Hamilton County Public Library below.

• CHPL has many digital resources available such as databases, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies and TV series, as well as music and podcasts. These can be accessed using a CHPL issued library card.
• CHPL have rare books and special collections that include “more than 43,000 books, 23,000 photographs, and numerous maps, blueprints, broadsides, and prints” (CHPL, 2021e). Some of the rare print materials have been digitized, making them accessible online. The rare print and digital collections include a Loeb collection, Lafcadio Hearn Collection, and Edgar Rice Burrough Collection.
• “Ask a Librarian” hyperlinks are easily visible throughout CHPL’s website. There wasn’t any information about curbside service easily visible on their website, but patrons can request a 30 minute in person or virtual meeting with one of the librarians that can be used to assist with finding and borrowing materials. CHPL’s 30 minute virtual meeting is what got the attention of American Libraries.
• There seems to be a plethora of events available, both virtual and in person. Regardless of which type of event, it is clearly marked if the event is virtual or in person. The events targeted towards childrens, teens, families, and adults, as well as people who are English Language Learners. For the whole month of October, CHPL hosted an outdoor event in LaBoiteaux Woods and was marketed to children of all ages.
• CHPL has videos and tutorials developed to help patrons access a variety of digital resources. There is a YouTube video showing patrons how to access their databases and other resources. In order to support their take and make kits program, CHPL provides YouTube videos to show patrons how to create the crafts they can pick up at CHPL local branches. These take and make kits are created for a variety of ages: children, teens, and adults. CHPL also provides a video with COVID test kit instructions, since some of the libraries provide at-home test kits.

Reflection

Overall, I find CHPL’s website very user friendly and visually pleasing. I find myself comparing it to my local library’s webpage, which I find lacking when compared with CHPL’s. There is plenty of white space which makes the colorful banners or hyperlinked images pop off the webpage. I did notice that some of the webpages that an option where users can change the language on the website from English to several other language, like French, Spanish, or Filipino. That feature is not available on CHPL’s main webpage. The link to CHPL’s Tumblr link was the only link I found that didn’t work properly, so it appears that this website is very well maintained. Another reason why it seems like CHPL’s website is well-maintained is because the library’s vaccine information page is dated so that users know the currency of the information. Out of all the easy to find information, I did not see a link for users to apply for a library card prominently displayed. Users can find that information on the Services dropdown menu or at the very bottom of the webpage. I think it would be better to have that be one of the first things a patron would see when using CHPL’s website. I also didn’t see any information about curbside pickup being available for patrons. Despite that, CHPL has a highly functional website and could serve as a model for other libraries with more out of date websites.

In Depth Search

Along the top right of the webpage, there are the typical links found. The hours and locations link provides a dropdown where patrons can type their address or zip code to find the closest library. Patrons can also click on a link that allows them to view all the libraries within CHPL on a map, with the option of typing in their address or zip code, which provides directions to the library. The help link provides a dropdown to ask a question or to hyperlinks to webpages for FAQs, catalog and account guide, ask a librarian, or to contact library staff. Patrons can log into their account using the black tab in the very top right corner, which they can also use to access their library dashboard, which has information about items they have borrowed, on hold, and fees they have accrued, among other things associated with their account.

On the top, left side of the webpage, there are three dropdown menus: Books and media, services, and events. The books and media dropdown allow users to search by format or by audience, as well as being able to suggest a purchase. The services dropdown menu offers quite a few options for using the library, including information about MakerSpace, holds lockers, and laptop kiosks. Services about research support include research databases, genealogy, small business information, vaccine information, and information about special collections. After clicking on the special collections link, users are taken to the CHPL’s Special Collections webpage, where they can schedule a visit to view the special collections or view the rare print materials online since CHPL is working to digitize items to make “them more accessible to the community and to researcher’s worldwide” (CHPL, 2021e). Other services provided by CHPL focus on information about jobs, adult education and for educators. Families can find information about free meals, homework help, and take and make kits. There is also a link for a research database curated for teens. The events dropdown menu provides information about exhibits, used books sales, storytime, writer-in-residence, and CHPL’s YouTube channel.

On a blue vertical banner on the left side, there are a number of quick links provided. The first is a link is titled “Stream-Download” and it provides links for platforms that allow patrons to access ebooks, audiobooks, streaming and downloadable music, emagazines, streaming movies and videos, and elearning opportunities. There is also a YouTube video that helps patrons learn how to use these platforms, titled “Get Started with Digital Materials” (CHPL, 2021b). 

The next item on the blue banner is a link to research databases. That link takes patrons to a webpage with access to the research databases and online resources. These databases and online resources are broken into categories, such as by area of interest, for kids, for teens, by format, and lifelong learning. The first three options have hyperlinked headings like education, books, magazines and newspapers, homework help, current events, and school subjects. Under the lifelong learning category, users will find hyperlinked headings like online courses, test prep, and language learning. The language learning hyperlink gives users access to resources to learn over 100 languages like Zulu and sign language. These research databases are also featured more prominently further down CHPL’s main webpage.

The Late Fine Free link takes users to a blog post from August 27, 2021. This post proclaims that the CHPL Board of Trustees “agreed to end the practice of issuing fines for overdue items” which went into effect September 26, 2021 (CHPL, 2021c). 

Another item on the blue banner provides information about voting. The top of the webpage states “Every voter counts. The Library’s committed to providing nonpartisan voting information in person or online – no matter how you show up to the polls this election” (CHPL, 2021d). There is a list of libraries that will serve as polling places on November 2, 2021; each of the libraries on that list are hyperlinked and bring users to a webpage with information about that particular library. There is information with hyperlinks about election dates, directions on how to vote by mail and early, how to fill out voter registration forms either online or at the library (although the online option is crossed out, so maybe that means it is no longer an option), and other related online resources for Ohio voters. There is also information about how to be a poll worker and their nonpartisan partners. Lastly, there is information about recent blog posts about the upcoming elections.

The last item listed on the blue banner is the “ask a librarian” hyperlink. That link takes users to a webpage that lists different contact options: 24 hour chat with a librarian, the number to send a text, information on how to visit a library, a telephone number, request a 30 minute in person or virtual meeting with a librarian, and an email address where patrons can send a question. After patrons click on the request for a meeting, they are prompted to fill out a form. There is also a list of popular topics to be discussed during the meeting, which include: basic computer assistance, resume building, accessing digital resources, research assistance, and patent and grant information.

The left side of the webpage displays easily visible information about daily events occurring. Currently, there are two virtual events and two in person events and each event is clearly marked so patrons will know whether they are virtual or in person. There is a hyperlink that takes users to a list of all of the events occurring throughout CHPL. Patrons can easily apply filters for locations, dates, or types of events. The types of events include adult education, arts and crafts, book clubs, games and gaming, and genealogy. There are also events specifically for English language learners and Black people.

CHPL’s main webpage offers information about COVID test kits and vaccines. When users click on the link, they are taken to a well-maintained webpage with information about COVID testing and vaccines. There are seven different libraries that offer at home COVID test kits that are available to pick up at the drive thru locations. There is information about the brand of test kits and a video about the test kit instructions. This webpage also offers up to date information about select CHPL locations, with dates and times, that offer COVID vaccines. Hamilton County residents can receive COVID tests free of charge and there is no need to be insured in order to receive a test. The webpage also provides information about vaccination sites at other government locations. CHPL staff gathered resources about vaccines and when users click on the link, they have access to links to videos, webpages, and books about vaccines. 

There is a banner in the middle of the webpage titled “Read and Watch This Week”. CHPL uses this banner to highlight popular ebooks, audiobooks, movies and TV, teen ebooks, and kids ebooks. When users click on the title, they are taken to a webpage that allows them to check out the resource. There are also staff lists provided for adults, teens, and kids with lists of books that are compiled based on certain themes. Currently, the adult and teen staff-selected list of books focused on supernatural thrillers and chilling young adult novels.

Towards the end of CHPL’s main webpage, links to help patrons plan their visit to the library are easily visible. These include hyperlinks to CHPL’s events, locations, and the numerous ways to get in touch with library staff.

At the very bottom of the webpage, there are typical links one would find at the bottom of any organization’s webpage. There are links to CHPL’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, as well as their YouTube channel and Tumblr (which didn’t seem to work). The services that are provided are listed, as well as information about the library and how to support it. There are two more hyperlinks that allow users to access CHPL, one of which doesn’t seem to be located anywhere else on the page. When users click on the link “contact us” located on the right side of the bottom of the page, they are taken to a webpage with information about website assistance, staff questions, where to visit for the MakerSpace, and how to reserve meeting rooms.

References

Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Libraries. (2021a). Cincinnati Library. CHPL. https://cincinnatilibrary.org

Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Libraries. (2021b). Stream and Download. CHPL. https://cincinnatilibrary.org/stream/

Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Libraries. (2021c). No Late Fines Blog Post. CHPL. https://cincinnatilibrary.org/blogs/post/no-late-fines-on-overdue-materials-at-chpl/

Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Libraries. (2021d). Services Voting. CHPL.  https://cincinnatilibrary.org/services/voting/

Cincinnati and Hamilton Public Libraries. (2021e). Special Collections. CHPL.  https://cincinnatilibrary.org/services/special-collections/

Kay Brown, W. (2020).  Libraries adapt amid crisis: Finding inspiration in library workers across the country.  American Libraries, 51(5), 44.