Anoka County Web Sites

Web Site Linking Policy

A link on a Web page enables a Web site visitor to "click" on some underlined words or a graphic and then jump to a page on a different Web site.

Links can help Web site visitors quickly find useful information. For example, an Anoka County Web page could describe services the County offers to Seniors and then have links to Web sites that specialize in other types of information, such as current lists of assisted living facilities or support ideas for caregivers. Links enable Anoka County to serve the needs of its citizens without the expense of maintaining all types of information on its Web site.

However, links have risks. Visitors can follow links from the Anoka County Web site to other sites and assume that they are still on the Anoka County Web site. Visitors who follow links to other sites may assume that the County endorses, or is responsible for, the content on the other sites. The other sites may have links, too, and some of those links could go to content that the County would not find appropriate.

The Web site linking policy is meant to minimize the County's risks of making links to other Web sites while taking advantage of the opportunities they offer. For example, there will be a legal disclaimer on the site, stating that Anoka County is not responsible for content on other Web sites. When a visitor selects a link on an Anoka County page, an intermediate page will notify the visitor that they are about to leave the Anoka County Web site. But the policy also requires Division review of links to make sure they deliver value to County citizens and do not put the County's reputation at risk.

Procedures for making links to other Web sites

Reviewing a link

Basically, the point of the policy is to encourage links that are useful and that do not cause problems for the County. All links must be reviewed before they are published and Division Managers are being asked to take responsibility for that review. When reviewing a link, the following points should be considered:

1. Does the linked page offer information or a service that directly supports the mission of the Division? Does the information or service offer value to Anoka County citizens?
2. Is the organization that provides the linked page clearly identified? Is it a known, reliable organization?
3. Is the rest of the Web site of similar value? Does it have any content that could be considered offensive or inappropriate? Does it have any content that appears to be inaccurate or unreliable?
4. What other links does the linked Web site offer? Does it have links that go to content that could be considered offensive or inappropriate? Does it have links to content that could be inaccurate and unreliable?

Requesting a link

After it has been reviewed, a link may be added to existing content or may be included in new content. In either case, a link must be requested in writing, e-mail or paper, and the request must come from the Division Manager to the Web Site Coordinator. Department Heads or other staff who want to include links to other Web sites must present those links for review to the Division Manager.

The Web Site Coordinator will review the link and may offer suggestions about the use of the link. The Web Site Coordinator will present new links as information items for the Web Oversight Committee. The Committee reserves the right to review all links and determine if they should be used on the County Web site.

Code samples:  page for making the link | intermediate page

page last updated - 09/23/2004

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