Local Authorities Sites - Islington, London Borough of (Islington, London Borough of)

Member Name: Marland

Product:	Islington, London Borough of
Date:	18/04/01 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent for getting specific information

Disadvantages: Gives nothing of the 'feel' of Islington

At first glance this neat well organised site appears to have everything. The help page is simple and straight forward aimed at the beginner to the Internet. There is a choice of either site map, A-Z or search facility to aid the user in finding what they are looking for. The whole site is directed more towards the Islington resident or business than the tourist a bit like Islington itself. However once you start navigating around the cracks in the picture start to become evident. If you go for example to the page entitled ‘maps’ you are told that interactive maps are currently available, but you are not offered any or told how to get access to them, instead you are simply directed to a list of neighbourhoods. If you go to the page labelled ‘women’ you are told that ‘The Women's Equality Unit is being replaced by a new Equalities Unit which will be fully operational by Autumn 2000.’ It is now spring/summer 2001 and no link or further information about the Equality Unit is given, there is however a link to the Local Information Database, which I have to say is fairly extensive. The pages that carry graphics use stock photos, which like the rest of the web site are very professional, but not also ‘impersonal’ if you know what I mean. There is a lot of information, which is well organised, but you don’t in my opinion get a true picture of Islington, or a feel for the place in any way.

Summary: