Updates Made to UK Libraries Website Reflect Users' Needs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 5, 2014) — The University of Kentucky Libraries recently updated its website. Utilizing research gathered from patrons on wants and needs, UK Libraries developed an updated version of the site to answer user concerns.

“The research process has been challenging but it has definitely inspired us to dig deeper into some of the important concerns which we have had,” said Edward Brown, director of web development.

The surveys UK Libraries conducted in the fall of 2013 gave them a lot of important feedback from patrons in both ratings and long-form comments. UK Libraries learned that some patrons found the website to be “cluttered” and “busy” and that it was hard to navigate. They also learned that some critical information, such as library hours, was hard to find for some patrons. Using the feedback in the fall 2013 surveys, a study was planned and carried out in the spring semester of 2014.

The user study in spring 2014 concentrated on learning more about how UK Libraries patrons organize information, as well as the patrons’ wants and needs from the website. Participants completed a card-sorting task, which let UK Libraries know what things are most important to them on the site and how they group that information. Users also drew their ideal UK Libraries webpage, while also giving feedback on the old site and some proposed mock-ups that UK Libraries created based on preliminary findings.

“We are still processing all of the data that we gathered but our preliminary findings have given us the directions for the changes which we have recently released. Using their feedback, and the feedback of UK Libraries personnel, we made tweaks and then tested the designs again to make sure we were going in the right direction,” Brown said.

UK Libraries worked hard to make the site less cluttered and removed some of the elements that were problematic for patrons, while placing other important elements in more visible places. Improvements to the site include the most needed information available in the header of the page, including hours of service and the "My Library Account login," and an organized footer with contact information and other resources for patrons.

In addition, the site includes the selected databases drop down menu in a more prominent spot, a bigger search box with better placement, a contact page of the needed information for all UK Libraries departments, a revised “Get Help” page, and the addition of hours of service for the William T. Young Library to the UK Libraries homepage. UK Libraries plans to list hours for all of the campus libraries available on the homepage as well.

The UK Libraries continually works to improve the website and is always looking for feedback and research volunteers. To give feedback or volunteer, contact Edward Brown by using this page: https://libraries.uky.edu/feedback.php.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu