Excerpt from Vandergrift's School Library Journal Article

This second excerpt is taken, with permission, from "Building a Web Site with a Brain" School Library Journal. Volume 42, No. 4 (April 1996): 26-29.

"Determining a purpose for a website depends upon institutional and/or personal goals and on the interests and knowledge of the persons involved in its creation. It also requires careful thinking and design strategies, including a discussion of questions such as the following to help in the decisions concerning purpose.
* What is the anticipated benefit to both creator and consumer?
* Is public image of quintessential importance so that establishing a homepage best addresses image building, either for a person or an institution? For instance, a school library might decide that a website highlighting young people's accomplishments is the best way to build community support for funding for technology.
* Is "missionary zeal," that is, the desire to stimulate interest in a topic or share a personal passion, the prime motive?
* Is establishing a website critical for equalizing use of resources in a world increasingly dividing rich and poor in access to information? Or does it further divide the information rich and the information poor?
* Is providing possibilities for locating alternative views and significant numbers of resources a prime motivation?
* Is thinking and communicating globally a cardinal value to be developed through a website?
* Is creating a website that excites, entertains, provokes, entices, or intrigues a user a driving force?"