The University Library unveiled a redesigned website last Thursday, introducing a cleaner and more accessible home page. The search bar is now larger and centered at the top of the page, and there are fewer links clustered in the middle of the site.
"It was time for a change," said Sarah Bordac, head of outreach and instructional design for the library. The website was last redesigned in 2007. Designers used the same template as the University's home page, which debuted its redesign last fall, though they also looked to other sites that present large collections of information.
Though the library kept many of the same features, like the search bar, it changed the way the home page organizes links and displays information. Search results now display not only books but articles, e-books and other relevant library resources. Previously, students had to search for media separately.
A new box shows computer availability in both the Rockefeller Library and the Friedman Study Center. "Now students won't have to walk all the way to the library in the cold only to find that there are no computers left," said Arlando Battle '12, who worked closely with the digital technologies staff members who designed the site.
The "Ask a Librarian" area, where users can start an online conversation with a librarian, now allows students to more easily specify which librarian they would like to speak to and at what time. "There's not really new content, but the change in how we present the content improves the way you find content that already existed," Bordac said.
Students often ask librarians how to access licensed resources from off-campus, Bordac said. Though that information was on the library's site, students overlooked it.
"We went through a process of pulling out specific pieces and mixing it up like a jigsaw puzzle. I don't think our site looks like anyone else's, but there are some elements that are similar," said Jean Rainwater, head of the library's integrated technology services.
Benjamin Tyler, the library's digital imaging specialist, was responsible for programming the website. The library also conducted usability tests and sought advice from students.
Designers have received mostly positive feedback, Bordac said. "They've really improved it a great deal," Robert Lee '13 said. "It's a cleaner layout and not as cluttered. It seems like they're pushing the ‘Ask a Librarian' chat, which is great."
"All the information you need is right in front of you. It's very well thought out," said Linda Peterson, senior library specialist.
But not everyone was so positive. Yeshi Milner '12 said that she misses the second search bar on the home page that allowed students to search for off-campus sources.
The designers plan to keep updating the website based on feedback they receive. "It's not done yet," Bordac said. "Of course it will never really be done. It's an ongoing process."
