Fresh, intelligent, attractive — these are qualities many people will probably be seeking in their life as the 2002 fall term begins in earnest. This year, students and faculty can seek out inspiration in an unlikely source: the new Knight Library Web site. Strange as it may sound, these were precisely the traits the library staff had in mind when it set out to give the old site a much needed makeover.
“The trick was to mix usability,” said Juanita Benedicto, social sciences reference librarian and the library’s Web site coordinator. “We wanted to design a system that worked for experienced users but was also beginner-friendly.”
Benedicto said a large number of library users are freshman and undergraduate students who often arrive at the reference desk “overwhelmed by what the library has to offer” and frustrated by a Web site where it’s not even obvious how to do a simple search. Complaints like these provided the guidelines for creating the new site, she said.
Revamping the Web site was no simple task. J.Q. Johnson, head of the Web site implementation task force, said there are more than 7,000 Web pages on the site, and some departments within the library operate independently.
Due to the sheer amount of information, the old Web site was “extremely decentralized,” he said, requiring multiple links to reach basic search options. For infrequent users, simply beginning a search was a source of headaches.
“We focused toward a user-centered design, especially emphasizing user navigation,” said Web site committee consultant and creative advisor Kelly Ann.
Now, when users open the site, both basic and advanced search options are presented immediately, with instructions and help options written in common language, rather than in what Ann calls
“library terms.”
Following usability research, Ann also sought to give the site a more visual feel. “The old site was all text, not very attractive,” Ann said. “The new design is graphic-heavy, giving the site a more modern feel.”
In addition to simplified search options, the new site emphasizes the latest library news and resources. Major news, such as the establishment of a silent study area in the old periodicals section, is displayed on the opening page, as is quick access to a comprehensive and up-to-date news page. The
library’s schedule is also easily accessible on the initial page.
Despite these changes, the question still remains: Is the new site really any better? So far, responses have been mixed.
“From a staff perspective, the site puts all the information you are looking for in one place. It is much easier to use,” said Andrew Howell, manager of the library’s information technology center.
Some students, however, were less positive. Brian Robertson, a freshman and first-time library user, felt there was simply too much information presented at once.
“There was so much stuff on the first page, it was really cluttered,”
he said. “The menus were just
confusing.”
Benedicto acknowledged the mixed response and said the committee will continue to conduct user research and adapt the site throughout the school year. The site is a work in progress, with only 10 percent of the 7,000 sites fully updated, and Benedicto, Ann and Johnson all agree the site will evolve with the needs of the users.
“One of the new features of the site is a ‘Let us know’ link , and all
responses are welcomed,” Benedicto said. The library Web site is at
libweb.uoregon.edu.