Creating a User-Centered Website for Your Library

Date

2011-02-23

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Public Library Association

Abstract

Patrons entering through your home page should feel as welcomed as those through your front door. Make sure your library’s website is at its best for you and your patrons. Nate Hill, web librarian at San Jose (Calif.) Public Library, guides attendees through innovative ideas and strategies to make their websites more intuitive and user-friendly. Learn how the impact of design and content on website effectiveness and see how simplicity can actually increase usability.

This archived webinar was originally presented February 23, 2011. Recording sold as an on-demand webinar until February 21, 2013.

Running time: 52 minutes.

Description

Patrons entering through your home page should feel as welcomed as those through your front door. Make sure your library’s website is at its best for you and your patrons. Nate Hill, web librarian at San Jose (Calif.) Public Library, guides attendees through innovative ideas and strategies to make their websites more intuitive and user-friendly. Learn how the impact of design and content on website effectiveness and see how simplicity can actually increase usability. This archived webinar was originally presented February 23, 2011. Recording sold as an on-demand webinar until February 21, 2013. Running time: 52 minutes. Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will know: How to organize web content in a way that will increase ease of use and navigability; Design strategies to drive web users to specific information; How to simplify content and design to create a more effective website. Instructor: Nate Hill is the web librarian at the San Jose (Calif.) Public Library (SJPL) and the PLA Blog Manager. Nate was an instrumental part of the Digital Futures web team at SJPL responsible for redesigning the SJPL website, providing a “six blocks” design concept that was the structural basis for the new, user-friendly site. Before joining SJPL in 2010, Nate worked with the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library for 10 years. His career has focused on emerging technologies and service innovation within public libraries. Contact Nate Hill: Email: nathanielhill@gmail.com Twitter: @natenatenate Books mentioned during the presentation: The Design of Everyday Things, by Donald Norman; Designing Brand Identity, by Alina Wheeler; The User is Always Right, by Steve Mulder and Ziv Yaar; Never Leave Well Enough Alone, by Raymond Loewy.

Keywords

web, website, homepage, design strategies, webinar

Citation

DOI