Redesigning
Sharon Public Library
Problem Statement
Sharon Public Library stands at the heart of Sharon as am embodiment of knowledge, culture, and community engagement. As the library aims to meet the evolving need of its community, the importance of accessible, user-friendly, and modern website cannot be understated. Sharon Public Library's current website, while abundant in information, may sometimes present challenges for patrons in navigating and locating specific resources or details.
The Concerns:
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The website design is outdated from a technological perspective.
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Despite having a wealth of information, the content is not organized effectively, making it difficult for users to locate specific information.
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There's a need to rework the existing content to ensure that patrons can easily find essential resources, such as the online catalog, preschool story times, and the meeting room application form.
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Repetitive navigation which can be redundant.
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Some of the terminology/labeling can be confusing.
My role encompasses a variety of critical tasks aimed at enhancing the user experience on the library's website. My role involves engaging and collaborating with stakeholders to define the project goals and ensure that our objectives align with the library's mission and user needs. Additionally, I conduct user research including interviews and persona creation, to understand the target audience's preferences and behaviors. I've used tools like Treejack for task analysis to identify areas of improvement in the current navigation structure. I designed low-fidelity wireframes and iteratively testing and refining them based on peer feedback and user testing sessions. My goal for this project is to deliver a user-centric, modern, and accessible website that enhances the overall digital experience for the library's patrons.
My Role
The design process for this project involved several key stages. Initially, I collaborated with stakeholders to define the project goals and finalize the proposal. This was followed by conducting user research, including interviews and persona creation, to gain insights into user needs and behaviors. I then performed a content inventory and developed a taxonomy, which informed the analysis of the current navigation structure using tools like Treejack. Based on these insights, I created a detailed classification scheme and developed a site map. Next, I designed low-fidelity wireframes and refined them iteratively through user testing and peer feedback. This led to the creation of high-fidelity wireframes, ensuring a polished and user-centric design. The process concluded with the compilation of a comprehensive final report detailing the project's progress, findings, and recommendations.
Design Process
Primary Research - Field Research
The research involved conducting interviews with two librarians from the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. Both participants actively contribute to the library’s operations and have substantial interactions with the patrons, providing valuable perspectives on user experience. The research was conducted through one-on-one interviews, allowing for open-ended responses and encouraging detailed discussions on specific topics related to library website design and functionality. The research focused on several key areas including content organization, search functionality, mobile-friendliness, user feedback, visual design, and resource management.
Secondary Research - Literature Research
In addition to field research, literature review was also conducted. Academic publications, articles, and reports related to library users were reviewed. The literature review informed the development of the research questions and methodology and also helped to validate the findings obtained from the field research, enhancing the study's overall credibility and reliability.
User Personas
User Research
Site Map
Wireframe
The redesigned Sharon Public Library website features a comprehensive navigation structure that includes:
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Global Header Navigation
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Global Primary Navigation
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Global Footer Navigation
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Content Links
The website employs a hybrid classification scheme, combining elements of topical, task-oriented, and audience-specific organization. This approach is designed to be both intuitive and comprehensive, effectively catering to the diverse needs and browsing preferences of various user groups, such as children, teens, adults, seniors, professionals, and students. The hybrid scheme efficiently directs users to content most relevant to them. Content on the website is meticulously organized and categorized with a clear labeling system,enhancing navigability. Research methodologies like Treetest and Chalkmark have confirmed that this new structure, as depicted in the sitemap, significantly improves navigation compared to the previous design of the Sharon Public Library's website. Furthermore, the addition of a “My Account” page to the global primary navigation provides a personalized section for users, where they can access their personal information, further enhancing the user experience.