The ‘Links’ section of a public body’s website
A ‘Links’ or ‘Related organisations’ section is a small but useful part of a public body’s website. It is where visitors find their way to other websites connected with your work: organisations you oversee or work with, your own branches and departments, the body that founded or funds you, and other public information sources. No EU rule says you must have such a page – it is good practice, and part of our series on what a public body’s website should contain. Done well, it helps residents, pupils, parents, visitors and staff find their way around public services.
On the websites of municipalities, schools, libraries, museums and other public bodies, ‘Links’ should not be a formal list kept for the sake of it. It is a practical navigation tool that lets people find the most important related sources in one place instead of searching across different sites. That only works if the links are reviewed regularly, actually work and are clearly named.
Which links belong there?
Include only links that relate directly to your organisation’s work, governance or services. Each one should help a visitor do something specific: find the responsible authority, reach a branch’s page, read about a related organisation or use a service.
- Related organisations. If you work with other public bodies or belong to a network, link to their websites. A school might link to its education support service, a library to the local arts centre, a museum to its founder’s or partners’ sites.
- Your branches and departments. If you have branches, departments, district offices or separate websites for them, list them clearly. This matters most for local authorities, public libraries with branches and schools with several sites.
- The body you answer to. State clearly who founded your organisation or oversees it – usually a local authority, a government department or another state body – and link to it. It makes your place in the public system transparent.
- Relevant public services. Sometimes it helps to link to online service portals, booking or registration systems, or national information portals. Keep such links tied to your own functions and do not bury the visitor in more than they need.
How to present links clearly
The list must make sense not only to confident internet users but also to older people, people with disabilities and those who rarely use public services online. Placing the links on a page is not enough: they need clear names, a logical structure and a layout that works on every device.
- Use descriptive link text. The text should say exactly where the link goes. Instead of ‘Click here’, use the name of the organisation or system.
- Group links by topic. With more than a handful of links, sort them into groups such as ‘Founder’, ‘Branches’, ‘Partners’ and ‘Online services’. Grouping makes the page faster to scan.
- Check them regularly. Broken or outdated links undermine trust in your website. Review the section on a schedule and update it whenever addresses or organisational structures change.
Accessibility and data protection
Here a legal duty does apply. Public sector websites in the EU must be accessible under the Web Accessibility Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/2102), which in Ireland and Malta means meeting the relevant requirements of EN 301 549, broadly equivalent to WCAG 2.1 level AA. For links, the key rule is success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose): the purpose of each link must be clear from its text, or from the text together with its context. Links must also have enough contrast, be reachable with a keyboard and be easy to tap on a phone. If a link opens a document or an external system, say so in advance so people know what to expect.
Think about GDPR as well. When a link leads to an external system that processes personal data, the visitor should be able to see that they are leaving your website for another service with its own privacy terms. This matters especially for registration, applications, school admissions and library accounts.
What it gives your organisation and your visitors
A well-kept ‘Links’ section helps your own staff as much as your visitors. It cuts repeat enquiries, because people find the right authority or service themselves, and a clear structure supports open, orderly and trustworthy public communication.
One simple principle helps: give people as many links as they actually need, and not one more. For municipalities, schools, museums and libraries it is a small part of the website, but one that directly shapes how residents experience public digital services.