New Library Services Web Site Launched
Lehigh University Library and Technology Services celebrated
Founders Day, October 22, in a special way, with the launch
of a new library services web site. The new site employs the
content management system Drupal, an open source platform
that is ideal for dynamic and collaborative content.
"The new
website will give our users a more dynamic level of access
to our librarians and our collections" said Tim McGeary,
Team Leader for the library technology team. "Drupal allows
our library staff to contribute content directly and
interact with our users via chat, blogs, articles, and other
Web 2.0 features. And the platform gives us the power and
flexibility to feature elements of our collections, such as
our digital collections or new journal titles, in creative
ways."
In preparation for the new website, LTS librarians examined
other library sites to find best practices and models for
the features they hoped to include. They also developed
requirements that directed the site’s form and
functionality. The Subject Guide area brings to more
prominent notice the “LibGuide” service adopted by
librarians to create user guides for specific disciplines,
courses and research tools.
New and edited content and design ideas came from librarian
and staff experience helping students and faculty locate
information. Simple design changes such as immediate access
“Quick Links” to major resources were combined with more
extensive changes such as content specifically directed to
students or to faculty.
The library technology team also reviewed usability studies
conducted on the 'old' library website. For example, some
usability study participants expressed frustration in
locating resources like ejournals on the old site. The new
site includes a prominent, persistent search box of four
major resources, "Library Catalog”, "Articles/Databases",
"E-Journals" and "Subject Guides.”
Early responses to the new site from faculty and students
indicate pleasure at the design and functionality changes.
Professor Jack Lule stated, “If this were Facebook, and if I
used Facebook, I would give this a strong "Like". Almost all
the relevant links I often take are easy to find and
prominently displayed.”
Undergraduate Lara Kovant responded, “It looks really great!
It is so much more user friendly compared to the old site -
most notably the easy access to ASA. Also the accessible
links on the side (to RefWorks and citation guides, etc.)
make a big difference. In all truthfulness there wasn't
really anything that was lacking.” “The library's new
website is much easier to navigate than the old website,”
said undergraduate Allison Prosswimmer, “especially with the
list of quick links and the section containing links just
for students."
Improvements to the site will continue, including the
integration of an improved interface to the library catalog
that will address user requests for more flexible searching.
Drupal's open source license and modular architecture will
encourage experimentation and new developments that will
appeal to users; for example, there’s already a Lehigh
mobile portal to accommodate use on hand-held devices.
-- Mark Canney and Roseann Bowerman
Article posted November,
2010
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