Redesigning Sharon Public Library
The Sharon Public Library is a vibrant community hub dedicated to fostering lifelong learning, literacy, and cultural enrichment. Located in the heart of Sharon, the library offers a diverse collection of books, digital resources, and multimedia materials catering to all ages and interests. With a strong commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, it provides free public Wi-Fi, computer access, study spaces, and meeting rooms for community use. The library also hosts a variety of programs, including storytime sessions for children, book clubs, technology workshops, and author talks, making it a dynamic space for both education and entertainment.
Beyond its extensive collection and engaging events, the Sharon Public Library serves as a cornerstone for community engagement and collaboration. Patrons can take advantage of research assistance, interlibrary loan services, and digital lending platforms to access materials from anywhere. The library partners with local organizations and schools to support literacy initiatives and lifelong learning opportunities. Whether visitors are looking for a quiet place to read, attend an enriching workshop, or explore new ideas, the Sharon Public Library remains a welcoming and invaluable resource for the entire community.
Collaborate
Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders to define the project goals.
User Research
I conduct user research, including interviews and persona creation, to understand the target audience's preferences and behaviors.
Analysis
I've used tools like Treejack for task analysis to identify areas of improvement in the current navigation structure.
Challenge
Sharon Public Library stands at the heart of Sharon as an embodiment of knowledge, culture, and community engagement. As the library aims to meet the evolving needs of its community, the importance of accessible, user-friendly, and modern websites 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 image below shows the library's website prior to redesigning.
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The website design is outdated from a technological perspective.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.
Solution
The original site had outdated design elements and a difficult navigation structure, making it challenging for users to find information efficiently. To tackle this, I collaborated with stakeholders to define clear goals, conducted user research through interviews and persona development, and analyzed the existing content structure. Using Treejack for task analysis, I restructured the site's taxonomy and developed a more intuitive site map. From there, I created low-fidelity wireframes, refining them through user testing and peer feedback before finalizing high-fidelity wireframes. The result is a modern, user-friendly website that makes it easier for patrons to access library resources and services seamlessly.
Field and Literature 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.
In addition to field research, a 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
I developed detailed profiles representing the diverse users of the Sharon Public Library website. These personas were created based on user research, including interviews and behavioral analysis, to understand the different needs, goals, and pain points of library patrons. By identifying key user types—such as students, parents, senior citizens, and researchers—I was able to tailor the website’s design to improve accessibility and functionality for all audiences. Each persona includes demographic details, motivations, frustrations, and common tasks they want to accomplish, ensuring the final design aligns with real user expectations and enhances their overall experience.
Wireframe
In the Wireframe section, I translated research insights into structured design solutions by creating low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframes for the Sharon Public Library website. The low-fidelity wireframes focused on layout, navigation, and content hierarchy, allowing for early feedback and iteration. Through multiple rounds of testing and refinement, I developed high-fidelity wireframes that incorporated a clean, user-friendly interface with improved accessibility and functionality. These wireframes served as the blueprint for the final design, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience for library patrons while aligning with stakeholder goals.
Site Map
I developed detailed profiles representing the diverse users of the Sharon Public Library website. These personas were created based on user research, including interviews and behavioral analysis, to understand the different needs, goals, and pain points of library patrons. By identifying key user types—such as students, parents, senior citizens, and researchers—I was able to tailor the website’s design to improve accessibility and functionality for all audiences. Each persona includes demographic details, motivations, frustrations, and common tasks they want to accomplish, ensuring the final design aligns with real user expectations and enhances their overall experience.
Final Design
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.
