Scope
Client/Stakeholder: Sharon Public Library
Bio: A public library located in Sharon, Massachusetts
Project Scope: Sharon Public Library Is looking to maximize users’ usability by creating an updated site that allows its patrons to easily find exactly what they are looking for. SPL (Sharon Public Library) is looking for a well-organized site that’s not only engaging visually but also designed with intuitive topic groupings and a sense of visual and organizational hierarchy so that users can navigate with ease.
Goal
Libraries are a database of information made available to everyone within its reach. With this amount of knowledge comes the task of organizing all of that information into a cohesive, manageable, and navigable manner that allows users to find the things they want and need when they want and need them.
Research & Process
3 methods of research were conducted: Participants were given a list of tasks to perform
User Interviews: Two local library users were interviewed
Treejack: With the Treejack application we were able to test the effectiveness of our initial sitemap
Chalkmark: Chalkmark application is a research testing tool that tracks the users initial clicks when performing a given task.
Personas were then created based on data gathered.
Treejack
Chalkmark
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Personas
After running a content audit, which lays out the existing IA (information architecture), my challenge was to then simplify and create an IA that users could easily and efficiently access the information they were looking for.
Sitemap
Before: This site was outdated, crowded, complex, and wordy with a hard to follow flow of information.
After: An ambiguous IA theme with clear labeling and taxonomy.
Prototype: Final
Before:
After:
Landing Page
Login Page
Account Management Page
Family Services
Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned
With this library website, I was presented with a plethora of information. I found it challenging to categorize each item accurately, but believe I was thorough and what resulted is a cohesive, well organized IA . I took my own common sense as to which things would be most important (login, family service, reserving titles,library hours) the information from my user interview with local library patrons and the testing that I held with treejack and chalkmark to come to these finals.