Best Practices for UCL LibGuides

Guidance for embedding video or other media in a LibGuide. More specific guidance for creating Library Skills videos is available in the Best practice guidance: library skills videos guide.

• Accessibility for media widgets (right column)
• Embed a video
• Where to add a box within a page (right column)

Videos are a great way to provide instructional tutorials, or introductions to topics, and are a preferred format for many people. When embedded, they also add interest visually to a LibGuide or webpage. Videos may be embedded from various sources and providers, but ensure they are fit for purpose.

For guidance on creating videos See Best practice guidance: library skills videos. It is important that videos we create ourselves are consistent in look and feel and conform to accessibility regulations. The preferred platform for hosting videos we have created ourselves is UCL MediaCentral. 

Where possible, videos included in a LibGuide should be embedded in their own 'box' and a link also included as follows:

• First create the box:
  • At the bottom of the relevant column, click Add box. (You may embed your video in Column 1 or Column 2, depending on the context, but Column 1 may be preferable owing to the size).
  • In 'Box name', enter the name of the video as it appears on the title frame.
  • Leave 'Type' as 'Standard'.
  • Choose the position in the column.
  • It is recommended to select 'Draft mode' until you are happy that you have added the video correctly.
  • Click on Save.
  • Refresh the screen to make the box appear.
• Optional: If you wish you may enter some text to put the video in context. 
  • Within the box, click on Add / Reorder and select Rich Text / HTML. Enter your text and click Save and close.
• Next add a link to the video on the page where it is hosted, e.g. UCL MediaCentral:
  • Within your new box, click on Add / Reorder and select Link.
  • In 'Link name' enter the name of the video as it appears on the title frame.
  • In 'Link URL' copy and paste the URL of the video. In UCL MediaCentral, the link can be found by clicking on the Share icon in the top right of the video.
  • From the 'Window Target' drop-down menu, you may like to select 'Open in new window'.
  • Leave other selections as the default and click on Save.
• Finally embed the video in the same box:
  • Within the box, click on Add / Reorder and select Media / Widget.
  • In the 'Name' box, enter the name of the video as it appears on the title frame.
  • In the 'Embed code' box, copy and paste the embed code for the video. In UCL MediaCentral, this code can be found by clicking on the Share icon in the top right of the video and clicking on Embed.
  • Leave the 'Position' as 'Bottom of the box'.
• Once you are happy that you have successfully created the link and embedded the video, you can send the change for review.

• Add captions and/or provide transcripts for all media. 
• Ensure that media content does not contain flickering or flashing effects. In general, if the content flashes more than three times per second, or has bright contrast in the flashes, it may cause a seizure and should be avoided.
• Ensure accessibility of non-HTML content. If you cannot make it accessible, consider using HTML instead or, at the very least, provide an accessible alternative.

Library skills and subject guides each have 3 columns.

Left column:

For the navigation menu only.. Please do not add any boxes to the left column. They show at the top of the page when viewed on a mobile device, above the title. The only exception is in Library Skills guides where the image for the relevant skills theme may be inserted without a title below the menu, by re-using the box from the page for the appropriate theme in the reusable content guide.

Central column: 

Main and text-heavy content should go in the central column, so that it is easier for users to read and doesn't take up as much vertical space in the guide. 

Right column:

Generally used for calendar feeds from LibCal, useful links, embedded videos and tips.