Title: Redesign for Success: Developing a Student-Centered Website
1Redesign for Success Developing a
Student-Centered Website
- Gina Garber, Digital Services Librarian
- Michael Hooper, Electronic Services Librarian
2 Program Outline
- Background
- Analysis
- Conceptual Design
- Prototypes
- Production
- Launch
- Maintenance
- Questions
3Background
- Factors that indicated change was necessary
- Original web administrator resigned
- Students wanted a change
- Poor usability of materials and resources
- Too much information on the homepage
- No website policy and procedures
4Background
- No one was maintaining the website
- Example 1 Library Test Collection
- Example 2 Gift Policy
- Example 3 Humanities 1010 Instruction
5Background
- School of Business - Marketing 4310
- Dr. Carmen C. Reagan
- Business Approach
- Students developed five advertising strategies
for the library (red folders) 10-20 pages each - Marketing Objectives
- Relationship of Advertising to Library Usage
- Consumer Benefits
- Marketing Plan
- Implications of Market Research
- Communications Media and More
6Background
- Students wanted a change
- Homepage is too wordy
- Drop down boxes semi-confusing do differently
- More color
- Add icons
- Organize databases for easier access
- Make it more user friendly
7Background
- Poor usability of materials and resources
- Example 1 Library Reserves
- Example 2 Database Access
8Background
- Too much text on the Library homepage
- Example 1 Library Homepage (original design)
- Example 2 Library Homepage (mini redesign A)
- Example 3 Library Homepage (mini redesign B)
9Background
- No website policy and procedures
10Analysis
- Identify Users
- Identify Users Needs
- Identify Web Administrators Limitations
- Identify Librarys Limitations
- Auditing Web Pages
11Programming Needs
- Microsoft FrontPage
- Microsoft Active Server Pages
- Cascading Style Sheets
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Dynamic Navigation (global navigation)
12Conceptual Design
- Beginning the Creative Process
- Defining Smart Design
- Reviewing Website Goals
- Developing Concepts
- Presenting Designs and Gathering Feedback
Goto, K., Cotler, E. (2002). Web Redesign
Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN New Riders.
13Visual Design
- Focused on a relief sculpture that hangs in the
stairwell entrance between the 2nd and 3rd floor
(associated with the library) - Explored color schemes
- Explored design options on paper
- Explored other academic library sites
- Reviewed site goals
- Advertise Exhibits and New Services
14Design Graphics
- Adobe Creative Suite Premium
- Photoshop
15Design Template
16Old Library Homepage
- Felix G. Woodward Library
17New Library Homepage
- Felix G. Woodward Library
18Prototype (Protosite)
- Prototype first full-scale and usually
functional form of a new type or design of a
construction - we recommend building a Protosite, also called
an HTML click-thru
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Goto, K., Cotler, E. (2002). Web Redesign
Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN New Riders.
19Why Create a Prototype?
- To test design feasibility (did the designers
have the required technical knowledge?) - To determine if the website could be represented
properly in HTML format - To seek feedback from relevant members of the
university community (especially students)
20Prototype Development
- Used FrontPage to create web pages and organize
website - Took photographs and created graphics
- Located scripts and modified code for rotating
images, mouse rollovers, and the catalog search
box - Used trial version of menu software to create
main navigational menu
21Locating scripts code
- Library search box Sheridan Libraries (John
Hopkins) - Image (webpage) rotation free script from
Automatic Labs (website now unavailable)
requires PHP - Image mouseover JavaScript W3 Schools
- Main navigational menu Free Trial download for
Open Cubes Visual Infinite Menus
22Prototype Review
- Prototype reviewed by the university website
designer (member of public relations department) - Meeting to discuss prototype with Library
faculty, staff, and student workers - Focus Group consisting of APSU students
23Focus Group Questions
- Name one of our frequently used databases.
- Access your library account.
- Who is the subject specialist or library liaison
for the Music Department? - How would you contact a specific member of the
Library verses asking a librarian a question? - How do you look up information regarding
government publications? - How quickly can you find your information?
- Is the information logically organized? If no,
what needs to be changed? - Compared to the old interface, is the new
interface easier for you to find information? If
no, what needs to be changed? - Are you satisfied with the new Web site design?
- Do you have recommendations for improvements?
- What do you like and do not like?
- What else you would like to see on the Web site?
24Prototype Feedback
- Students provided feedback regarding colors,
screen resolution, and desired content Screen
Resolution Test - APSU web designer provided a graphic with an
official university logo - Staff made recommendations concerning priority of
menu items, categorization of items under main
menu, and the label for the library catalog.
25Prototype Recognition
26Production
- Modifications made to prototypes based on
feedback - Purchased software used to create main menu (Open
Cubes Visual Infinite Menus) - Resolved differences in prototype appearance
among various browsers - Created template for new internal web pages and
modified existing pages to match
27Production
- Weeding of outdated and unused items
- Transfer of new and existing HTML files to new
web server - Check for functionality (modifications to ASP
forms and other scripts were necessary) - Validate code using W3C Markup Validation Service
located at http//validator.w3.org/
28Launch
- Introducing users to a redesigned website can
require some preparation of expectations. Users
may not know what to do when they are suddenly
confronted with a new look or navigation
structure. Therefore, you should communicate any
planned changes to users ahead of time
U.S. Department of Health Human Services.
(2006). Research-Based Web Design and Usability
Guidelines. Washington D.C. U.S. Dept. of
Health and Human Services. Retrieved
January 15, 2007, from http//www.usability.gov/pd
fs/guidelines.html.
29Launch Advertisements
- Ad placed on existing homepage several weeks
before launch - Advertisement made on the universitys e-mail
announcement system after launch - Information sessions held for APSU faculty
members at start of Fall Semester
New Library Website Coming Soon!Ad location on
old homepage
30Launch Procedures
- Activated new web server containing modified HTML
files (no classes in session) - Alias domain name was created and set for target
URL (homepage) on new server - Testing for appearance and functionality was done
on various browsers and screen resolutions - Depending on the users ISP provider, the new
site may not appear until their cache has expired
31Maintenance
- Created Website Policy to designate maintenance
responsibilities - Created Procedures for New or Substantially
Revised Web Pages to regulate new additions to
the website and help maintain integrity. - Provided template for creation of new web pages
- Periodically check for broken links and outdated
content
32Maintenance
Announcements
33Future Development
- Investigate website analysis software
- Provide a blog to announce new services and
policy changes (Ex Electronic Resources _at_ APSU
Blog) - Investigate link-checking software to discover
broken links - University may move to a new content management
system (not compatible with Front Page)
34References
- Ball, J., Roby, J., Senica, V. Staggs, B.
(2006). Advertising Plan for the Felix G.
Woodward Library. Clarksville, TN Austin Peay
State University - Marketing 4310. - Bean, T., Davis, K., Jones, B., Meisch, R.
(2006). Use Your Peay Perks and See How the
Library Works. Clarksville, TN Austin Peay State
University - Marketing 4310. - Bellinaso, M., Hoffman, K. (2003). ASP.NET
Website Programming Problem, Design, Solution.
Indianapolis, IN Wiley Sons, Inc. - Bishop, B. (1998). Strategic Marketing for the
Digital Age (pp. 13-29). Toronto, Canada
HarperCollins Canada. - Byers, J., Flournoy, J., Jerrim, C., Rascoe, T.
(2006). Advertising Proposal for APSU Woodward
Library. Clarksville, TN Austin Peay State
University - Marketing 4310. - Chumbley, J., Ham, T., Harriman, J., Harris, M.,
Henson, K. (2006). Advertising Plan for APSU
Library. Clarksville, TN Austin Peay State
University - Marketing 4310. - DeBolt, V. (2005). Integrated HTML and CSS A
Smarter, Faster Way to Learn. San Francisco, CA
Sybex Books. - Dudas, M., Blair, R., Savage, B., Kelly-Rich,
M. (2006). APSU Library Advertising Strategy.
Clarksville, TN Austin Peay State University -
Marketing 4310. - Felix G. Woodward Library. (2007). Retrieved
April 11, 2007, from http//library.apsu.edu - Goto, K., Cotler, E. (2002). Web ReDesign
Workflow that Works. Indianapolis, IN New Riders
Publishing.
35Questions?