Needs comments!

[SunBlind]

I was thinking of doing some work on the library section of my site and decided to get some feedback before I start.


myth-and-fantasy.com/library/

- Any problems with navigation (not in a specific broken link or anything, but overall)

- Is it difficult to find those books that have additional information (cover pictures, reviews, etc)

- Too slow to load? (it is fairly graphic intensive)

- Comments on the layout or colour scheme

- Comments on my graphics (never liked the books at the top of each page...)

- I have an info page, but does anyone actually read that stuff? *g* Be honest!!

- Is the entrance boring or is simpler better

- Let me know of things you'd like to see added. I was thinking some kind of search engine if I could figure out how to do that. Any kind of java stuff? I used to shy away from that but I might be interested in trying it out now. Should links highlight when the mouse passes over them?

- On the review/summary pages, would you want to see more info about each book, and if yes, what.

- Any particular library section you'd like me to start building up?

- Anyone use Netscape or Firefox...does it look fine? (And where does one get Firefox, been wanting to download that for a while now)

- Anything else? Suggest anything, even if its technically impossible.


Don't send me anything to add to the site (like reviews, missing books, etc) just yet. I'll be coming back to ask you for that later *g*

[LadyL]

I Love the entrance! It looks REALLY good. I like simple - easy to read, easy to find, well done!
(I would maybe add, at the bottom of the page by the copyright sign, on every page a link to sign read guestbook - if you are going to have one, that is. I like the background a lot! Whitout reading your questions the info link was the first I opened, and I just quickly skimmed through it. I haven't seen it all, but I'd like to link to you from my page, this looks like a great resource! (I miss Robin Hobb's Farseer books from the dragon section, though

well done, I might come back with more comments when I've had time to look at it better :0)

[LadyL]

Oh, and another thing. Do you do comissioned backgrounds? I don't need a set - I really would like an intro image and maybe a background.

I'm afraid I can't pay in money :/ but maybe in some work of some kind? :0) (I can write html, photography and poems, but that's about it) Interesting? If not that's grand, of course

[MadMooCow]

You asked, you shall recieve:

Navagation - I'd suggest having a menu on every page (even if it is a basic), allowing easy access to every part of the site. This helps keep things faster for the audience and everything is easy to find, and you don't have to go back to get there.

Additional information - Perhaps have a key saying how to get to this information.
eg: "Click on the highlighted bullets to find the addition information of the book, including reviews and cover art."

Load time - it was very quick for me (cable)

Layout - I llike it. See above for comments on the navagation. Also, perhaps try and have a headding for each page, just so the audience knows what page they are on.

Graphics - The ones you have give the site character, they are a nice addition. I suggest you keep them.

Info - Honestly, no. I did not (I don't have the time at the moment). However, you have done everything right in that you have chuncked the text nicely, added bullets and headings. I can easly see that you have all the information needed for someone who did have the time, or was lost and needed informatin about the site's workings.

Entrance - Personally, I like it. It works well for both the design and the content of the site.

Additions - A search engin would be helpful to present the audience with the information they needed faster (which would take care of the 'hunters' on the net). With the links highlighting, I'd suggest stay away from it, it would look cheep on a nice site like that.
(( To add a search to your site try going here for info

Review / Summary - I think they give all the information needed, along with a personal review.

Firefox - I have never used FireFox... ever. Have you tried Here?

I hope I've helped. If you do happen to have any questions on anything I've said just ask. Also, if you want any help with the technical side of the site I'd be willing to help also.

Love the layout too!

[Xenon]

Just a note, I plan on looking over it more when I have time - Opera is another browser option, and in my opinion is a better browser than Firefox. I say this because enough people use Firefox now that it's finally starting to be exploited, wheras Opera runs under a similar style but is better coded and less well-known. ;D www.opera.com

Not bashing on Firefox, just offering another alternative.

Also, as an Opera user, it all looks great.

[LadyL]

Once again... I've had some more time to look at you site, so more comments

****
- Any problems with navigation (not in a specific broken link or anything, but overall)

No, I like the unicorns back link, nice graphic too :0) It is not confusing in any way.

- Is it difficult to find those books that have additional information (cover pictures, reviews, etc)

I liked the idea and I don't think it needs much explaining.

- Too slow to load? (it is fairly graphic intensive)
It loaded very fast for me. Not a problem.

- Comments on the layout or colour scheme
I love it - very simple, very clean, very classical. (Did you add red to the dragons or was it always there, I liked it better in black - if it ever was black )

- Comments on my graphics (never liked the books at the top of each page...)

I like it, original and stylish without being overdone, the font is great.

- I have an info page, but does anyone actually read that stuff? *g* Be honest!!

Well, I flipped through it, it is good to have it there :0)

- Is the entrance boring or is simpler better

It is great, I love it.

- Let me know of things you'd like to see added. I was thinking some kind of search engine if I could figure out how to do that. Any kind of java stuff? I used to shy away from that but I might be interested in trying it out now. Should links highlight when the mouse passes over them?


I would like to see an alphabetical index of authors listed by surname - I know it will take long time to fix, though. Soime writers don't really fall into only one of your categories. I agree w Emma, no highlights and I think java is unnessecery - your page is simple and lovely.


- On the review/summary pages, would you want to see more info about each book, and if yes, what.


I can't think of any, except maybe a list of all other books by same author - even though they aren't in the same cathegory (just the names and years and interlinked if there happen to be a review)


- Any particular library section you'd like me to start building up?
Maybe "Witch/Wizard or something like that - fantasy that is not involving animals too much - I'm thinking about the Living Castle for example.

- Anything else? Suggest anything, even if its technically impossible.

If you want, you could make a banner for linking to this part of your site :0)

~L~

[Broan]

The layout is nice and not cluttered. The colour scheme makes it easy to read the text. The graphics look cute and proffessional.
The page with the books are really long though. I might suggest a collapsable menu. The script can be found www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex1/navigate1.htm
The load times where good but I have broadband.

[SunBlind]

Thanks for the comments everyone! Will have to check out the links everyone posted.

Emma - I may take you up on your offer of help depending on what I decide to implement. I figure now that I've gotten a handle of basic html its time for me to experiment with fancier stuff a bit. Just don't know how to do most of it

Xenon - I've heard of Opera, that's been around a while. Maybe I should try that. I'm tired of worrying about IE's security holes and although Firefox and Opera probably limit some of the super fancy features, those features are usually the most dangerous one anyway. I know Firefox left out some of them on purpose.

Broan - I was also thinking that some of the lists were getting rather long, collapsible lists sound great, especially for the series.

OOoh, and I used to be a vampire in that link you have in your sig. That was kind of fun, teehee.

LadyL - I was planning on adding author bios and bibliographies, so that should cover one of your suggestions

Also, what kind of background, and intro image were you interested in? I have poetry (and short stories for that matter) in different parts of my site and am always searching for more *g* Anything fantasy related is great, though even better if dragon, unicorn or pegasus specific. I intend to add a gryphon section some day, so that would be cool too.