LibGuides Standards and Best Practices

It’s important that there’s standardization of frequently used terms. Some examples:

• e-book not ebook. (E-book when used in a header or title.)
• e-journal not ejournal. (E-journal when used in a header or title.)
• catalog not catalogue.
• web not Web.
• website not web site.
• e-mail not email (E-mail when used in a header or title.)
• Internet / internet: Capitalize when used as a noun (i.e. "on the Internet") but not when used as an adjective (i.e. "internet resources)
• database not research database or online database.

Examples when referring to library products or services:

• Interlibrary Loan not ILL.
• WorldCat not WorldCat Local.
• research Guide not LibGuide(s). Only refer to LibGuides as the product not the content.
• page not tab: More about this distinction on the Getting Started page.

The following words often hint at problems:

• digital or electronic or e-* : Patrons–especially students–expect most resources to be available on the Web.
  • Bad: "Online help is available through our chat reference service."
  • Good: "Visit our chat reference service for help."
• library or libraries : This is the BC Libraries Web site, so visitors will assume you are talking about the Libraries and their resources.
  • Bad: "Library study rooms are available on the fifth floor."
  • Good: "Study rooms are available on the fifth floor." 
  • Bad: "Find this book in the library."
  • Good: "Find this book."
• Boston College or BC
  • Bad: "BC Library's xxx Program"
  • Good: "xxx Program"
• most or some : be specific and include links to help user navigate
  • Bad : "Guest printing is available in most libraries."
  • Good: "Guest printing is available except in X library."

• Use "we" instead of "the Boston College Libraries".
  •  Personal pronouns are more scannable and reduce text size. Users will know "we" refers to the Libraries.
    • Bad: "The Boston College Libraries provide patrons with access to iPads and laptops."
    • Good: "We have iPads and laptops for you to check out." 
• Don't put opening or closing hours in your text.
  • Hours are subject to change, and your text will quickly become out-dated. Link to the Hours page instead.
• Don't include screen shots of our website homepage.
  • Pages change, and screen shots become out-dated. Provide direct links rather then showing pictures of links.
• If a service applies to all libraries then you shouldn't need to specify in the title.
  • Bad: "Photocopying (ALL LIBRARIES)"
  • Good: "Photocopying"
• Prefer context to text.
  • We often use words when the meaning is obvious from context.
    • Bad: "For help, contact the O'Neill Reference desk (form: https://libguides.bc.edu/ask-a-librarian/email-us, phone: 617-552-4472)."
    • Good: "Contact the O'Neill Reference desk (617-552-4472) for help."
• Don't use absolute directions/positions when referring to a specific box/column.
  • Your guide is responsive and columns will shift around for different screen sizes. 
    • Bad: "See the box on the right for additional information."
    • Good: "Additional information can be found in the Resources box."

• Database titles should be italicized except when used in a database asset.
• Use the ampersand ("&") only in guide, page or box titles and never in text unless referring to a title in which it is used.