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.