Library Website Docs

The Library website follows some basic design guidelines and constraints in order to mirror the main University website and accessibility best practices.

Brand Colors

U of I’s official brand includes these theme colors: pride-gold, clearwater, raspberry, garnet, lupine, huckleberry, palouse, leather, bark, brand-black. We generate a custom Bootstrap theme using those colors, making the color variations available for all standard Bootstrap components.

pride-gold clearwater raspberry garnet lupine huckleberry palouse leather bark brand-black

Style Guide

Accessible Writing

Image alt text:

  • All images must have descriptive alt text!
  • Don’t use images that have text or tables in them, the text should be in the HTML.

Headings:

  • Write in shorter blocks of text and include plenty of meaningful sub-headings. This helps users scan and understand the contents.
  • Headings must follow logical order on the page, increasing by one step (h1, h2, h3, etc) without skipping levels.

Links:

  • Don’t use “click here” style links!
  • Always put links over descriptive meaningful text.

Consistency

Phone Numbers:

  • Content: Check that numbers are consistent across site
  • Should read (xxx) xxx-xxxx
  • A phone number may be a link, but doesn’t always have to be - make this decision according to context and use the old website as an example.
  • When a call link, code should be: <a href="tel:+1-208-xxx-xxxx">(208) xxx-xxxx</a>
  • When a text link, code should be: <a href="sms:+1-208-xxx-xxxx">(208) xxx-xxxx</a>

Names:

  • Check that names are current and consistent across site.

Email:

  • Check that emails are updated and consistent across site.
  • In markdown <username@uidaho.edu> will be converted into a email link.
  • In HTML should be <a href="mailto:username@uidaho.edu">username@uidaho.edu</a>
  • Consider if it should be an email link (which will open a email client for the user) or a link to the person’s profile page giving users more contact options.

Proper Use of “And”:

  • Avoid using “&”, always use “and” instead inside of content.

U of I

  • Always use “U of I” (not “UI” or “UIdaho”)

Resources