University of North Texas

By Caroline Booth, Director of Communications and Marketing, UNT Libraries

If you haven’t visited it yet, take a few minutes to check out UNT Libraries’ redesigned Web site. Launched just before classes started this semester, the new site puts the needs of students, faculty and staff front and center. Some of the highlights include:

• Improved search options and search boxes location;
• Daily building hours for each of the UNT Libraries’ locations with an improved locations and hours display;
• Enhanced news and events display to help promote the Libraries' collections, happenings, and services;
• A collapsible "Find" tab throughout the site that will provide quick access to frequently used search options, features, and services.

“The UNT Libraries’ website was last redesigned in 2006. Although the site remained functional, it was in need of a redesign to become a more modern, upbeat and welcoming site,” says Neena Weng, user interfaces unit manager in the Digital Library Services Division.

In October 2011, Weng says, the UNT Libraries began the Web site redesign with the primary objectives of:

• Improving the overall site usability based on the user feedback, usability testing results and Web usage analysis data gathered over the years;
• Implementing an iterative, user-centered site improvement strategy that would enable the libraries to constantly engage with faculty, staff and students and make site improvement an ongoing process.

Weng says that one of the first and most critical tasks in the redesign process was gathering feedback from users through online surveys and in-person interviews.

“One of the tasks in this interview was for the participant design/draw on a blank sheet of paper a library homepage that would be ideal for that participant to use,” she says. “The findings gathered from this participatory design activity were quite instructive. For example, we observed that 100 percent of the participants placed the search boxes at the most prominent spot in their design - a fact that helps explain the search box placement in our new design.”

Response to the new site has been overwhelmingly positive:

• “I love the new look and functionality! Thank you.” – Student
• “Great job!!!! Because of the new organization of the website, I was able to learn more about different services offered by the libraries that I didn't know existed.” – Student
• “Love love love. bright and cheery. easy to find things” – Faculty
• “I LOVE the new website redesign!!! It is really helpful to have the hours of each library on the front page. The webpage is very clean and colorful.” – UNT affiliate

UNT Libraries would love to hear your opinion on the redesigned site, so check it out and let us know what you like and where we still have room to improve.