This morning Web Development rolled out an update to the Libraries’ home page (https://www.lib.umn.edu). This update has been in the works for several months, with help from Web Presence Management Group and the Usability Testing Team. We have deliberately launched this update during this slow week, so that if there are any hiccups, we can make necessary adjustments before classes start. Please let me know if you notice any issues. This update also brings the previously-mentioned changes to My Account, which now redirects into the MNCAT Discovery My Account screen.
You’ll notice that this homepage update takes advantage of much of what we learned in redesigning the Health Sciences Libraries sites last year (https://hsl.lib.umn.edu), and represents a rearrangement rather than a wholesale reconsideration of our homepage. We based our decisions on data we’ve collected about how users interact with our homepage. Here are a few notable changes:
- Starting at the very top of the page, we’ve worked with U Relations to make some changes to the institutional header and Libraries’ branding. Look for a font change yet to come that will bring the “M LIBRARIES” in line with the identity we’re using on print materials.
- We’ve long been concerned about the prominence of the site search box in the header, especially on smaller screens, where we feel there’s been an undue risk of users mistaking site search for MNCAT Discovery search. Rather than a site search box in the header, we’re now using a text link in hopes of avoiding that confusion.
- We’ve changed the Help button to a Help menu. In usability testing, we saw users who were hesitant to click the Help button, unaware of what exactly would happen. The new drop-down menu should make clear what avenues are available for users seeking help.
- We’ve made the MNCAT discovery search more prominent, while also providing access to the more traditional catalog search and to finding aids.
- Our news and events features and feed have moved from the center column to the right-hand column. These features remain prominent, but don’t impede users who are productivity-focused.
- In consultation with WPMG and AIS, we’ve put a prominent link to Chat directly on the home page. We’ll be eager to see how this affects usage of this service.
- It’s long overdue, but we’ve brought back to the homepage links directly to Library Course Pages that authenticated users are taking or teaching. We know that users rely heavily on course materials as a starting point to begin research, and so we’re eager to provide this entry point to library resources.
- WPMG has been working on a new and updated set of pages providing relevant information for users according to their affiliation with the University, links to which are in the “Services for” box in the center of the page.
- One of my favorite changes is the jumbo-sized image we’re using in the From Our Collections area. We have such a wealth of fascinating digitized materials, and this layout will really allow them to shine. Users rarely interacted with the small images in the carousel that we previously had in this space.
- Finally, I’m proud to share that this homepage revision reaffirms our commitment to creating accessible sites and services. Our homepage is fully compliant with modern accessibility guidelines as measured by the Firefox AInspector tool, which was recommended to us by colleagues in the University’s Computer Accommodations Program.
I’m grateful to colleagues in WPMG and the Usability Testing Team for their help in developing and testing these changes. In particular I’d like to thank Kate Peterson. While the work of the entire Web Development department has laid the foundation for these changes, I’m particularly grateful to Eric Larson, Michael Berkowski, and Jen Tantzen for their hard work on a tight timetable.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with any comments or concerns about these changes.
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