IT Librarian Presentation Redesigning the University of Saskatchewan Library Homepage
Jun 20, 2015
IT Librarian PresentationRedesigning the University of Saskatchewan Library Homepage
Introduction: The Challenge
“The Library will be redesigning its home page. You have been asked to critique our current home page incorporating current best practices in user-centered web design.”
From a strategic plan perspective
Vision statement: “As leaders and innovators in a dynamic information environment, we collaborate with our community to create a positive experience that leads to success in learning, scholarship and practice.”
Mission Statement: In fulfilling the University Mission and Strategic Directions, we: Create, select, acquire, organize and preserve information resources to meet
current and emerging teaching, learning and research needs. Teach and empower our community to find, evaluate and use information Remove barriers to access and ensure user-centered Library services,
resources and facilities Build relationships and partnerships internally and externally
Mission, Vision: Central Ideas
Leadership
Innovation
Dynamic
Collaboration
User-centered
Positive experience
Removal of barriers
Relationship building
Architecture and Design Principles
Information Architecture
User-centered Design
Architectural Components
1. Organizational systems
2. Labeling systems
3. Navigation systems
4. Searching systems
The Users
Student population, all included, normally hovers just under 26,000 (25,984 in '07-08)
Students under 24 (Millennials) comprise over half the student population (13,255).
Faculty and staff for, 2007-08, is around 7,000 -- 718 faculty with tenure (same years).
Other Websites
BYU’s new website
Other Institutions
Graphic, inviting, search, social space.
Other Institutions
CMSs: Consistency Made Simple
Cascade and Drupal
Current Site
The Site Redesigned
Central Attributes: The Users Priorities Catalogue search Databases Paws/Account information Gateway to U of S Libraries and Service Units Menus/Navigation systems
User-Centered Design
User Comments
“Could be jazzed up a little aesthetically perhaps (an image or graphic maybe?)”
“There needs to be a visual somewhere. Even though it is a university library website it doesn't need to be boring.”
“The site is for the library, if there were half-naked guys and girls all over the site, you might see a little more action; let’s be honest the site does what it needs to do but I think with a little fine tuning it could be more interesting.”
“it`s not visually exciting or even aesthetically pleasing too much white, too clinical. It is simple though but maybe more pictures or banners.”
“hmmmm add some flava most students are depressed enough when they are looking up books. a boring website doesn’t help.”
The Extras
Design for small devices
Book locator feature
Social networks
PAWS
Social Networking
Conclusion
If the library seeks to become leaders in the field user-centered and user-interactive design must be at the forefront of this increasingly participatory age.
Thank you!
Bibliography
Krug, Steve. Don’t Make Me Think. Indianapolis, Ind. : New Riders ; London : Pearson Education
[distributor], 2005.
LibSuccess: A Best Practices Wiki. <http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Website_Design>
Rosenfeld, Louis, and Morville, Peter. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, 2nd Edition. Sebastopol CA: O’Reilly Media Inc., 2002.
Tapscott, Don. Growing Up Digital. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.