UX Design Best Practices for Public Library Websites

Great library websites need to do many things well, including: provide a compelling user experience, effectively publish and provide access to content, promote library online and offline services and increase community engagement.

This is the first in a series on the different aspects of an effective library website.

PART ONE: User Experience
Let’s first start with a critique of a Home page and the overall design ‘theme’. Here’s an example of a design we did for the Watertown Free Public Library in Watertown, MA.

?

?

Much thought was put into this page. Here are some of the ideas behind the the user experience design:

• An easy to read layout, not too cluttered, with only a few colors and large visuals that invite the visitor to browse and interact with the page.
• A simple ‘header’ area focused on making it easy for visitors to search both the website and catalog.
• An area where alerts can be easily added temporarily e.g. “Tonights computer class…”
• Multiple links where visitors can contact the library, in the header (‘Contact/Help), sidebar (‘Feedback’) and footer (address, phone and ‘Email the Director’).
• A translate feature so visitors can read the site in their native language. This includes using ‘systems text’ instead of making any text a graphic so the text can easily be translated.
• A home page ‘billboard’ to promote events and services e.g. Hoopla.
• Engaging and interactive content e.g. the ‘Libraries: changing lives...’ video.
• Important information easily accessible such as the hours the library is open that day.
• A ‘Stay Informed’ block where patrons can sign up to receive emails by type of interest e.g. classes, events etc.
• Calls to action that engage visitors and increase participation (see the participate block).
• Timely content, either events occurring soon or new items added to the website e.g. the ‘New in the Adult blog’ section.
• Social media sharing for the page as well as individual page element sharing

Now let’s take a look at an interior page.?
?

?

Here is the reasoning behind the design of this page:

• Carousels showing book covers, providing a visual and interactive way to display the content.
• Extensive content specific to an audience type e.g. teens. Note there are links to a teen tech program, teen blog, teen Facebook page, teen reviews, teen suggestion form etc.
• Specific Teen events.
• A call out for Awesome Box.
• An interactive poll specific to teens.
• A large visual mega menu drop down displaying secondary navigation.

These are some of the areas that are critical for a successful library website design. Learn more about our library web design services?and see the Watertown Free Public Library website.?

Next up in this series about great library websites: which content management system is better suited for libraries, Drupal or WordPress?