Linking and Navigation

• Easy navigation comes from a clear hierarchy of pages and directories. Think about where new Web pages fit in the existing scheme, or if you need to make a new directory (see also: Naming Directories, Files, and Links).
  
  
• Use breadcrumbs (at top) to reflect this hierarchy. Breadcrumbs orient users and help them navigate to higher level pages. Keep breadrumbs short and logical. DO NOT include "UM Libraries' Home" in the breadcrumbs.
  
  
• Check for broken links on a regular basis, using the UM Libraries' Link Checking tool.
  
  
• Link name should match the page or section name it goes to. In the example below, the link to the McKeldin Copy Shop should say just that, not a variation like "Photocopy services."
  
  
  
  
• Warn users when linking to a non-HTML page, such as a PDF, Word document, or other non-HTML file. In the example below, the page notes links to PDFs.
  
  
  
  
• Take care with deep links into Research Port and Catalog. There are some extra issues to consider. See:
  • Linking into the Catalog
  • Linking to Research Port
  
  
• Alert users when they are leaving the UM Libraries' site for an external site, as in the example below.
  
  
  
  
• Evaluate other web pages before linking to them. Check for authority, purpose, currency, content and bias. For more information, review the guide: Evaluating Web Sites.
  
  
• Use the "return to top" feature (from the Libraries' Templates) only on longer pages where lots of scrolling is required. In the example below, the Site Index page uses "return to top" links after every letter.
  
  
  
  

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