A Study of State-Funded Community Networks in Indiana:

Final Report

Findings

2.3 Analysis of CN Web Sites

2.3.1 Structure

2.32 Content

2.3 Analysis of CN Web Sites

This analysis reflects the state of 24 of the 28 AI-funded CN web sites as of November, 1997 (see Appendix C for the list of sites used in this analysis). At the time of the initial drafting of this report (February, 1998), some of these ites had been redesigned and had improved their offerings, both in their breadth and depth. These changes, however, were not sufficient to cause a change in the findings and recommendations in this report.

Content on many sites is developed and maintained by members of the Board. Some respondents indicated that they do use their AI grant money to help fund content development. One CN has obtained grant money from a local foundation that they disburse for small local content development grants. On at least two CNs there are active webmasters who have "crews" of volunteers who help develop content. Having Board members volunteer to develop and mount web pages has been one way to keep any controversial materials from being posted. However, since many CNs have as a main goal for the next year the development of more content, having Board members do it all may become a bottle neck.

There is a mix in the types of services that CNs offer through their web sites. Some host personal web pages; others do not, either because they believe that they would be responsible for regulating the content of these pages or because they choose not to compete with local ISPs, which offer that service. Most CNs hosting member pages offer server space to local non-profit organizations. A few host business pages, but this typically occurs on the CNs that are the community's ISP so there is no competition. Because of direction from AI and ICNA to focus on content, most respondents reported that they have devoted most of their attention and time to this task. A Board member of a second round CN reported that his/her Board was told on several occasions by an AI representative that "the development of local content (local information) is necessary to drive a successful community network. (i.e. minutes of the school board meeting)." The Board member said that the CN decided that "our role as the community network partner is to help develop current and news worthy information about the communities serviced by the network." This is a theme that cut across many Boards, which are thinking about how to increase community involvement in their CNs. One feature that is becoming more popular is the community calendar set up so that community groups can enter their own events. One CN found good calendar software and customized it; now other CNs are beginning to use it as well. A few CNs are beginning to develop community focused listservs and discussion forums. Because they do not have easy ways to communicate with their users and do not do any evaluations, they were not able to say how satisfied their customers were with these features.

2.3.1 Structure

Almost all of the CNs have developed their web sites to the point at which they can serve as the infrastructure for digital community information systems. Since the analysis reported in this section was completed in November, 1997, many CNs have incorporated new design and operational features, adding new layers off interactivity onto their sites. Some CNs are experimenting with CGI and Perl scripting, Javascript, frames, and multimedia. As a consequence, the analysis, which examined 24 CN web sites, is three to five months behind the curve; this means that there will have been some advances in structural and design features not reported below. However, a reexamination of these sites in February, 1998, reveals that the findings about the development of content still hold.

On their home pages, all 24 CN web sites displayed the AI logo and linked the image to ; three CNs buried the logo on the second or third level of their sites. The ICNA logo was displayed on 15 sites and linked to ICNA. Fifteen sites had a graphic logo identifying their web sites. Textual identifiers were used on all sites with nine using images to represent their communities. Links to the AIIN map appeared on four sites and three linked to the ICNA list of CNs. Only two sites linked to the ICNA guidelines for web site acessibility by people with disabilities. There were links to the CN sites' designers on 21 sites that led either to the designers' sites or email links. All provided a table of contents on the home page, with ten using an imagemap. Four sites also had a link to a site map. Frames were used on seven sites, although four employed them at levels below the home page; the four sites using frames at the top level provided a link to textual alternative.

The web sites make use of second generation design features including tables, frames, imagemaps and some basic interactivity, including scripting (javascript) and forms-based submission of information. They range from three to nine levels in depth with seven using frames and, in November, 1997, contained between 20 and ~75 pages; the average site had five levels, no frames, and ~40 pages. All incorporate color and graphic elements, but have limited interactivity. Background colors were used on 20 sites, 15 used background image, and all used .jpg and .gif images on their pages. Various forms of multimedia were used in nine sites, but this typically meant animated .gifs, although two sites included sound files. All of the sites used a link to allow viewers to send email, but only six were explicitly designated as means by which comments, questions, and suggestions could be submitted.

Forms were used on eight sites, the content of which ranged from the provision of demographic information for a 911 database, a registration form for the CN, a library feedback form, and a form through which members could submit items for an online community calendar. Links to web search engines were found on eight sites and seven had local search engines. Links to locally sponsored discussion groups and listservs were found on seven sites; six included instructions for subscribing to these services and three provided links to other discussion forums sponsored by other CNs, AIIN, or ICNA. Counters were used on five sites, four were running CGI or Perl scripting with their forms and two site used Javascript, one to animate a banner and the other for an interactive table of contents. Five sites had other interactive links including a resume database, a job bank, an email directory, and a site index. One CN had a password protected area for members, and none were experimenting with chat rooms or other web-based conferencing. See Table 1: Structure on the CN home pages and websites (for all tables, n=24).

Table 1: Structure on the CN home pages and websites

2.3.2 Content

The content analysis of the CN web sites indicates that there is a range among the web sites from a small number that have breadth and depth of content, far surpassing the requirements specified in the ICNA (1997), a small number of sites that barely meet the most general of these requirements, and a larger number that have at least superficial coverage of these standards with pockets of content development on their sites that display depth and complexity. For example, Table 2: Required CN links and information about the CN lists the requirements listed in 7.03 and shows the extent of compliance.

Table 2: Required CN links and information about the CN

A pattern was found among the CNs with superficially developed or underdeveloped sites that is illustrated by the treatment of links to local schools and school districts, a suggested guideline for the development of these web sites. There is a top-level link that satisfies the guidelines for local content and then the content development tails off dramatically. In many pages that appear at lower levels of these web sites, content is typically lists of location information categorized by subject (e.g.: businesses; places of worship; government offices), some of which is linked to pages not hosted on the server. Often, there is little information added to these entries, leaving the list looking like pages from a telephone book. This pattern can be seen in Table 3: CN links to Schools and School Districts.

Table 3: CN links to Schools and School Districts

This pattern was repeated for many major components of the guidelines. For example, it can be seen in the treatments of links to local public libraries, which were found on 20 sites. After the initial listing, the content about the library dropped off quickly. A list of hours of operation was provided on nine sites and a calendar of events on eight. Links to local libraries' OPACs were found in six sites and six provided location information for their libraries. Local library board meeting dates appeared on two sites and none had meeting agendas or minutes of past meetings. On four sites a variety of links could be found to off site genealogy, children's services, reference service, inter-library loan, census information, and Friends of the Library pages. Two sites provided schedules for their libraries' meeting rooms. See Table 4: CN links to local Public Libraries.

Table 4: CN links to local Public Libraries

Almost all of the CNs had the required links to local content about the CN, although they varied in the depth of coverage. Eighteen had information about themselves and 17 had a mission statement online, but only 13 included their bylaws. The Boards of Directors were identified on 17 sites and 16 had pages detailing their histories. Acceptable Use Policies appeared on 12 sites. Current financial statements were provided on 10 sites and six had past statements. Meeting schedules and minutes of past meetings were posted on 11 sites. A "What's New" link to a page of announcements was used by nine sites. Each of the following was found on two sites: articles of incorporation, business plans, FAQ pages about the CN, and information for parents about keeping the net safe for their kids. Individual membership information was provided on 15 sites and 12 had information about corporate membership. Information about the costs of individual membership was posted on 11 sites; Nine described the benefits of becoming a member while 10 did the same for corporate membership. Three sites had information about hosting web pages and about their ISPs. A range of other services were offered on eight sites, ranging from computer and internet/ web training, to web page design, to locations of local public access terminals. See Table 5: Links to content about the CN.

Table 5: Links to content about the CN

Links to local community information appeared on 20 sites. Seventeen sites had a community map, 16 had pages about local history, ten provided demographic information, and nine had photographic images of community landmarks. Links to pages with sightseeing information, announcements of festivals and events, and business information were found on three sites. At least one link to pages about local government was found on 19 sites. Directories of elected officials were found on 15 sites with varying degrees of completeness, for example, nine sites had a calendar of government events, eight had announcements of upcoming meetings of government bodies and seven had at least some address information for some local elected officials. Pages about local election information appeared on five sites, voter registration information on three, the location of polling places on three, and background information about local political issues was found on two sites. On five sites, a range of pages were found with the tax code, a link to a sex offender repository, a most wanted list, and a listing of fire districts. Only three sites had links to local military pages, but this is probably an artifact of geography. See Table 6: Local community and government information.

Table 6: Local community and government information

Most sites had extensive top level links to local cultural, service, religious, and health care organizations. All sites had links to or information about local cultural and recreational organizations; five sites had information for organizations without web sites. Information about or links to the local parks and recreation office was found on five sites. Pages describing special projects and events appeared on ten sites, eight sites listed the hours of operation of local facilities, seven had schedules, and five had reservation information. Among the other links found on six sites were links to local clubs, museums, and historical societies, and information for seniors, pet owners, and gardeners. All sites provided some links to local service organizations; five sites provided location and contact information for organizations without a web site and on five sites, the links were not accompanied by any explanatory information. There were links and information about local volunteer opportunities on seven sites, four had information about special projects and how members could contribute to them, and three provided local events calendars. Linked to local extension services were found on nine sites, although little further information about these services was provided. See Table 7: Links to local cultural and recreational organizations.

Table 7: Links to local cultural and recreational organizations

Links to or information about local places of worship appeared on 21 sites, with ten listing times and dates of services. Three sites had images of these places and among the other types of links found on eight sites were listings of revivals, descriptions of church social programs, links to religion sites elsewhere, and a directory of the local clergy. Links to or information about local health care facilities and providers were found on 19 sites, with local hosting of pages on two sites and off-site links on five sites, however, some off-site links were dead. Four sites had pages containing information about local providers' medical specialties. Among the links found on five sites were lists of medical staff at different facilities, hospital menus, flu vaccination information, psychiatric services, and a directory of local physicians.

There were links to or information about local businesses on 21 sites, with 13 linking to their local chambers of commerce, eight linking to the local Economic Development Council, and three linking to local Rural Development Councils.; six hosted pages for these chambers on their sites and five listed the members. Location information about the chambers that had no web presence was provided on three sites. There were links to local businesses' pages or banner ads and logos for these businesses on five sites. Links to local realtors were found on nine sites with three linking to local Boards of Realtors. Links to local media were found on 22 sites. There were links to or pages about newspapers on five sites, eleven had links to radio stations, and eight to television stations; typically there was no further information about media outlets that did not have web pages. Links to local and/or regional weather were found on 14 sites. See Table 8: Links to local business.

Table 8: Links to local business

Two common community services that appeared on many sites were a community calendar and a page with links to or information about local employment opportunities. Community calendars were found on 18 sites; five included direct, password-protected entry options for members. Searchable calendars were found on four sites, four had older calendars archived, and three contained links to other relevant calendars. Links to or pages listing local employment opportunities were found on ten sites, however only one site had a page of current employment listings.

There were a range of links to regional, state, and national web sites. There were links to federal government web pages on 17 sites; ten linked to federal agencies and departments, eight had linked to the homepages of national politicians, and six linked to national military web sites. There were links to state government website on 16 sites, with 11 having links to the homepages of elected officials. Links to other prominent and relevant state information available through AIIN appeared on eight sites with six linking to regional and state Workforce Development pages and five linking to the Indiana Department of Education, or IDEANet. Links to state library and education pages were fund on 12 sites; nine had links to some university and college homepages in Indiana, eight linked to some university libraries in Indiana, seven had links to the Indiana State Library homepage, and four linked to the Indiana Higher Education Commission.

There were links to state and national media web pages on 12 sites. Links to other CNs were found on 12 sites; five had the AI list of CNs in Indiana, and two sites had links facilities were found on eight sites and three linked to national parks and facilities pages. Links to businesses outside the CN's region were found on five sites; on four sites, there were links to national business organizations and on three, there were links to regional and state boards of Realtors. Other types of links found on four sites included stock, relocation, and statistical information, business article abstracts, and links to FedEx, UPS, the Post Office, and auto companies. See Table 9: Regional and national links.

Table 9: Regional and national links

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