A quick timeline of the recent history of the JoCoWeb World....
In September 2002, The Digital Community Information Clearinghouse (DCIC) plan was developed. This document outlined the plan for creating the Web Content Team and to focus staff and technical resources on developing locally relevant Web content—not just for the library’s Web site—but for a number of community partnership sites as well (JoCoHealth, JoCoFamily, JoCoBusiness, JoCoHistory, etc…).
In 2003, the first members of the Web Content Team were transferred from tech services, LIT, and hired into new positions.
In 2004, the Web Content Team conducted a series of usability studies on the JoCoLibrary Web site. The studies, which were conducted with patrons of all ages, provided data on the functionality of the Web site and feedback from patrons for potential improvements. The overall findings: When we asked patrons to find basic elements on the Web site (library catalog, events, recommended reading, library hours, databases, etc.), 42% of patrons were successful or very successful; 31% were moderately successful (they eventually found the information, but only after many clicks and track-backs), and 37% were unsuccessful.
Based on the usability findings, the Web Content Team implemented navigational and sub-site improvements while maintaining the current look and feel of the Web site. Here are a few "befores" and "afters":
Readers' Corner before ~ Readers' Corner after (today)
Teens before ~ Teens after (today)
In 2005 we started revising the DCIC plan, and new team members were hired to assemble a team of Webbies--a team of 7, all focused on Web Content and Web interface design. In October of 2005, we surveyed patrons to determine which online services they felt were most useful, which services they would like to see in the future, what they liked most about the Web site, and what they liked least.
Of the 400 responses received; most responses were consistent across age groups. Almost half of the participants were between 31 and 50 years of age (47 percent). Those who responded are very active users of our Web site: 86 percent of the participants reported that they visited the library’s Web site daily (26 percent) or weekly (60 percent). Overwhelmingly, 96 percent of patrons said that the visited the library’s Web site to use the library catalog to find, renew, or place holds on library materials. Beyond using the library catalog,
most patrons used the Web site to:
January 2006 we conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis with Ad Council and a cross-section of JCL-staff members including I.S., Y.S., Outreach, Community Relations, LIT, and Branch Managers. We have since drafted an update to the DCIC, entitled the JoCoWeb World plan. (To be posted here shortly for your review and comments.) View an excel spreadsheet of the SWOT analysis to review the results and how we incorporated the feedback into our Web plan.
And now, we're getting ready to rebuild the whole thing from the ground up. It's not a redesign. We're going to melt it all down and start new. It's a big deal. It will be a huge undertaking, and we'll rely heavily on the input of JCL staff and patrons throughout the process.
Here's just a handful of the projects we'll be tackling in 2006 as we embark on the new JoCoWeb World....
In 2003, the first members of the Web Content Team were transferred from tech services, LIT, and hired into new positions.
In 2004, the Web Content Team conducted a series of usability studies on the JoCoLibrary Web site. The studies, which were conducted with patrons of all ages, provided data on the functionality of the Web site and feedback from patrons for potential improvements. The overall findings: When we asked patrons to find basic elements on the Web site (library catalog, events, recommended reading, library hours, databases, etc.), 42% of patrons were successful or very successful; 31% were moderately successful (they eventually found the information, but only after many clicks and track-backs), and 37% were unsuccessful.
Based on the usability findings, the Web Content Team implemented navigational and sub-site improvements while maintaining the current look and feel of the Web site. Here are a few "befores" and "afters":
Readers' Corner before ~ Readers' Corner after (today)
Teens before ~ Teens after (today)
In 2005 we started revising the DCIC plan, and new team members were hired to assemble a team of Webbies--a team of 7, all focused on Web Content and Web interface design. In October of 2005, we surveyed patrons to determine which online services they felt were most useful, which services they would like to see in the future, what they liked most about the Web site, and what they liked least.
Of the 400 responses received; most responses were consistent across age groups. Almost half of the participants were between 31 and 50 years of age (47 percent). Those who responded are very active users of our Web site: 86 percent of the participants reported that they visited the library’s Web site daily (26 percent) or weekly (60 percent). Overwhelmingly, 96 percent of patrons said that the visited the library’s Web site to use the library catalog to find, renew, or place holds on library materials. Beyond using the library catalog,
most patrons used the Web site to:
- Find library branch hours and information (44 percent)
- Look for programs for adults, teens, and children (38 percent combined: 14 percent, programs for adults; 6 percent, programs for teens; 18 percent, programs for children).
- Access online databases (33 percent).
January 2006 we conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis with Ad Council and a cross-section of JCL-staff members including I.S., Y.S., Outreach, Community Relations, LIT, and Branch Managers. We have since drafted an update to the DCIC, entitled the JoCoWeb World plan. (To be posted here shortly for your review and comments.) View an excel spreadsheet of the SWOT analysis to review the results and how we incorporated the feedback into our Web plan.
And now, we're getting ready to rebuild the whole thing from the ground up. It's not a redesign. We're going to melt it all down and start new. It's a big deal. It will be a huge undertaking, and we'll rely heavily on the input of JCL staff and patrons throughout the process.
Here's just a handful of the projects we'll be tackling in 2006 as we embark on the new JoCoWeb World....
- Install a new content management system
- Redesign the look, feel, and functionality of the library's Web site as well as all the partnership sites (JoCoHealth, JoCoFamily, etc...)
- We'll also spin off new sites, such as Web sites for kids and young adults that include age-friendly graphics, design, and content
- Install new search appliance (powered by Google) so that patrons can find what they are looking for without drilling down through nested link upon link
- A new calendar system with (cross your fingers) a keyword search and an option for patrons to register online for programs
And much, much more... stay tuned...
posted by JCLWebTeam at 2:17 PM
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