Review of University Archives and
Special Collections Websites
Method
I reviewed 31 reviewed websites with known special collections and archives departments:
● 9 peers identified by Towson University (Peers)
● 2 recommended by the Special Collections Department (SpColl)
● 6 from the University System of Maryland consortium (USMAI)
● Others from a search in colleges.niche.com for universities with tuition and enrollment similar to
Towson University (Niche)
The data I looked for answered the following questions:
● How does the main library page link to the special collections and archives (SCA) page?
● What headings and subheadings does the main library use to link to the SCA page?
● What elements does the SCA page utilize? These might include SCA specific:
○ URL
○ branding including social media, banners, and logos
○ user-specific navigation and search
○ look and feel such as colors and styles
I developed the form for the review as I acquired new information; the final draft of the survey is attached.
Data
URL analysis
35% of the pages reviewed do not have unique URLs for their main libraries; the library page is nested within
the University site (for example, university.edu/library, rather than library.university.edu). This affects the
autonomy of the SCA pages.
University-Level Library Webpages
Percent of Total
Total
11
35%
Niche
4
31%
Peer
3
33%
SpColl
0
0%
USMAI
4
57%
Three universities reviewed have a unique URL for Special Collections (Appalachian State, UNC Charlotte,
and Emory). Most SCA pages have a URL that nests within the library. Of them, two SCA pages nest directly
under the University URL: for example, university.edu/SCA (Alabama, Birmingham; CSU Chico). This means
that most SCA pages nest within the library website.
Unique SCA URL
Nested SCA Page
University-Direct
Nest
Total
3
28
2
Niche
1
12
1
Peer
1
8
0
SpColl
1
1
0
USMAI
0
7
1
Link Locations
Drop-down menus from a primary navigation bar are the most popular way to link to the SCA page from the
main library homepage. Even if links to the SCA page exist in other places on the main library page, there may
also be a drop-down menu link to the SCA page. Some library homepages require digging through the site to
find the SCA link; others have the SCA link mixed with the other content on the page; and still others have links
directly from the vertical, horizontal, or footer navigation bars without having a drop-down menu.
Drop-Down
None
Page
Content
Top-Level
Vertical
Top-Level
Horizontal
Top-Level Footer
Total
16
4
6
4
1
2
Niche
10
1
1
0
0
1
Peer
3
2
2
3
0
1
SpColl
1
1
0
0
0
0
USMAI
2
0
3
1
1
0
Words Choice
“Collections” is the most popular heading used to describe the link to Special Collections and Archives,
followed by “Libraries or Library Spaces,” then “Find or Research,” and “Departments.”
Collections
Find,
Research
Libraries,
Library
Spaces
Other
Departments
Services
Resources
Total
17
6
8
2
6
1
2
Niche
8
4
3
2
1
0
0
Peer
5
1
2
0
3
1
0
SpColl
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
USMAI
3
1
1
0
2
0
2
Design Elements
The Special Collections and Archives pages may distinguish themselves from the main library homepage in a
variety of ways:
● branding, such as SCA-specific social media and logos, and SCA-specific banners
● Navigation and search unique to the collections environment and needs of specific users
● Colors and styles that convey a unique environment
The following case studies elucidate on options for some of these design elements.
Branding
Emory's Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Books Library builds on the Libraries and University logo to
emphasize its brand while maintaining hierarchy. The brand is further emphasized by its catchy name-MARBL, which connotates the timelessness of the stone--and by the links to MARBL-specific social media
when applicable.
The University of Maryland Libraries Special Collections works within the Libraries and University template and
navigation. Its pages are unified by banners that emphasize the reflective, historical mood of the site. A tag
line, "delve deeper into history," invites users and also expresses the nature of the collections. The social
media link leads to a Libraries-wide chart that allows the user to select Archives or Special Collections-specific
social media.
UNC Wilmington Randall Library Special Collections and UNCW Archives also uses a separate banner. The
choice of replacing the Library banner with the UNCW mascot makes sense, as it immediately conveys a
feeling of place, culture, and tradition. The Special Collections and the Archives each have their own logos.
User-Specific Navigation and Search
Most university SCA pages add customized navigation to the content area, which lessens already limited
space. A less often seen but useful technique is used by The University at Buffalo Libraries Special Collections
and the Sacramento State University Library Special Collections and Archives. These pages collapse
Library/ies navigation to bars at the top of the page. This results in more space for the Special Collections,
emphasizes the administrative hierarchy, and allows users to access quick links to the sites they need. It also
allows the Special Collections to have its own horizontal top-level navigation without changes the existing
navigation, which can be confusing for users.
The Special Collections and Archives at Towson desires access to the collections to be the priority of the web
presence. Other Special Collections and Archives sites place search functions at the forefront in different ways.
Mississippi State adds specific search applications in highlighted boxes beneath the header of each division.
Appalachian State provides separate search boxes for guides and the catalog, explaining which collection
each tool searches; this site also lists subject headings to search. UNC Wilmington provides an all-in-one
application that allows you to select tabs to search the catalog or finding aids, while also highlighting the option
to browse.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln created a slider to emphasize different search platforms for specific audiences:
archival researchers, alumni and administrators looking for University History, and users who need
instructions. They have many microsites for individual projects and campaigns, such as Nebraska U: a
Collaborative History, which unites "student research projects and multimedia" about University History in one
platform.
Look and Feel
Style and and color may be utilized to create strong brand associations between an SCA page and main library
or university page. University colors provide a logical foundation, as anything with those colors invokes the
institution. Fonts and small decorative details may also provide unity between sites. As mentioned before, UNC
Wilmington's SCA page changes the banner from the Library and University, and it also has a unique logo.
However, the colors and fonts remain the same, which allows a user to understand immediately that they are
within the same University environment.
In contrast, one SCA utilized a drastically different color scheme and design. Southern Mississippi’s Special
Collections site completely changes the colors and style of the site from the Libraries and University. The site
uses a more traditional-looking color choice, and the style of the page consists of lists of links rather than bright
yellow buttons or social-media inspired boxes of images. While the choice of color and style is not obvious to
an outsider, the change in color distinguishes the Special Collections as a separate entity from both Library
and University with different navigation and purpose. It would be interesting to know more about why this SCA
felt the need to represent itself with a color scheme that does not tie itself to the Libraries or the University, and
whether that affects how its target audience relates to the page.
Conclusions
●
●
●
●
Most special collections and archives pages nest within the main library website
Most main library websites link to the special collections and archives pages from a drop-down menu in
a navigation bar located on the main library homepage
The most popular word linking to a Special Collections and Archives page is collection-oriented,
followed by location or purpose-oriented
A range of innovative design elements can maximize content, emphasize unique brand as well as
administrative hierarchy, and most importantly, provide a focused research experience to our specific
user groups