Roger Zender's Blog

Library Website Redesign Focus Group Summary

Here are some preliminary results from the 4 focus groups we hosted to help us determine the direction of our website redesign. These were very enlightening meetings and I'd like to thank all who participated. I would encourage any of you to contribute to this list in the comments.

Primary Purpose of the Website: Find Books / Journals / Articles

Other Core Services:

• Course Reserves
  
• OhioLink / Inter-library Loan
  
• Reference Services
  
• Alumni Services
  

Suggested "Quick Links:"

• Catalog
  
• Electronic Journals
  
• Course Reserves
  
• Ohio Link
  
• ILLiad
  
• Freedman Center
  
• Access to My Account
  
• How do I find my Pin?
  

Requests of new site:

• Prominent Federated Search box on front page (make it clear what the user is searching). Results grouped by format.
  
• All information shown in screen, without scrolling
  
• Show status if user is logged in or not (if not, suggest how to do so)
  
• Access to Blackboard, and possibly other services to make the Library website home to "all things information-related"
  
• Advertising of Library Services
  
  • Example: University of Notre Dame Libraries
  
  
• Incorporate some type of "bread crumb" trail, showing your current location in reference to the main page and should be clickable.
  
• Updates to what materials have been acquired (Faculty)
  
• Less library "jargon" and more casual terminology (i.e. "Find Articles" vs. "Search Database")
  
  • Example: MIT Libraries
  
  
• Menu choices should contain a summary of what they lead to
  
  • Example: Cal State San Marcos
  
  
• Keep choices to a minimum
  
• Better representation of Freedman Center services
  
• More details on the facilities (specs of scanners & other tech)
  
• Map of Library (preferably interactive)
  
• More detail on Reference staff. Photos and areas of expertise
  
• Prominent display of RefWorks Service
  

Items of contention:

• Organized site by type of user
  
  • Pro: Helps to streamline information based on the type of user
    
  • Con: Not everyone fits into those scenarios
    
  • Suggestion: Create a "beginner" and "advanced" user instead of Student, Faculty, etc...
    
  • Suggestion: Have area specific for people teaching a class.
    
  • Example: University of Minnesota Libraries
    

• Organized by Subject
  
  • Pro: Quick access for subject-specific resources
    
  • Con: Many subjects are interdisciplinary, could bee seen as exclusive
    
  • Example: Cal State San Marcos Library
    

• Widgets
  
  • Pro: Provides access to our catalog to where our patrons are (Firefox Toolbar, Google Homepage, etc)
    
  • Con: Additional work, disconnects people from the rest of our services (?)
    
  • Example: Harold B. Lee Library (BYU)
    

• Google Scholar
  
  • Pro: Additional information resource provided
    
  • Con: Want them to understand and use what the library has to offer first
    
  • Example: University of Texas Libraries
    

• Pictures on website
  
  • Pro: Can be graphically pleasing, picture of building could serve as a point of reference for visitors or people new on campus
    
  • Con: Bad images can be distracting, should not be cheesy
    
  • Example: Harvard Business School Library
    

• Icons for representation
  
  • Pro: Alternative visual reference
    
  • Con: Can be unappealing and distracting
    
  • Example: Kent State University Libraries
    

• Incorporation of current Social Web technologies
  
  • Pro: Go where the students are (MySpace)
    
  • Con: Is the effort worth it?
    
  • Example: Ball State University Libraries
    

• Expandable "Drop Down" Menus
  
  • Pro: Puts more choices on the mail page
    
  • Con: Not all choices are apparent when glancing the screen
    
  • Example: UCLA Library
    

• Multiple Languages (Yale / http://www.library.yale.edu/)
  
  • Pro: Promotes diversity
    
  • Con: Entire site can not be translated into another language
    
  • Example: Yale University Library
    

• Handheld Access
  
  • Pro: Increased Access
    
  • Con: Balance of effort vs. actual use (only 1 person said they surf the web on their mobile device)
    
  
  

Pie in the Sky / Not Directly Related:

• Link directly to KSL from the "Libraries" link on Case.edu
  
• Anticipate the users needs & suggest them
  
• Personalized KSL homepage (similar to MyCase). Would like to only see Journals they specifically chose to see.
  
• Better email correspondence.. what book is in? Offer direct links in emails.
  
• Create a system-led sequence for finding materials (our catalog -> OhioLink -> ILL, etc...)
  
• Create a self-led training for use of the Libraries services
  
• Incorporate access to professional reviews in catalog (more important than general ones)