Through the Web: door to academic libraries

The Web sites of 125 academic libraries were searched during the summer of 1999 to find information about the libraries. These sites were accessed from their respective research universities, with the finding that it is often difficult to locate the library from the university home page. Information that is essential on any library Web site includes postal addresses with zip codes, names of directors with e‐mail addresses, phone numbers with area codes and a Webmaster e‐mail contact when this information is not readily available. It was found that academic library sites are often confusing and difficult to navigate when seeking information about the library itself. Factual information should be provided in a logical, organized manner, with easy navigation and predictive headings.