New Home Page Design

June 2, 2008 -- The University Libraries unveiled a new home page design today allowing the Western Michigan University community to get acquainted with the improvements made. The new design replaces the current home page on August 1, 2008. Meanwhile, Web site visitors can take the new home page for a test drive, react to it, and provide the University Libraries with feedback all throughout the summer months.

The new design will replace the current home page on August 1, 2008. Web site visitors may use either the current or new home page simultaneously.

Also, a convenient comparison chart, compares the two versions.

Get involved

The Library wants to hear the community’s reaction and is encouraged to get involved with the design process by:

• Reading the Library Redesign Blog: Rread the Who, What, When, Why, and How
• Comparison chart: Compare the old with the new
• Contacting us: Questions, comments, and suggestions welcome
• Participating in a library focus Group: Sign up and share your ideas with us

What's new

The new design has many improved features:

• Better navigation: Easier to operate and now with larger text
• Greater flexibility: Intended to incorporate and make better use of our RSS feeds, videos, podcasts, and instant messaging
• Greater accessibility: 'Text only' and Skip to content' options for people who prefer text-only Web browsers
• Integrated search box: Find books, journals, and full-text articles in one central location
• Latest News: Get the latest library news via RSS feeds and coordinated library blogs
• Instant Messaging: Get in touch with us instantly—a new service we are piloting in the fall
• Better branding: We're grabbing the reins and celebrating WMU's new branding initiative

Why a new design?

The new design is a culmination of over 36 months of research and input from Web site visitors. This included focus groups, two campus wide assessment surveys, and web site and card sorting usability studies.

Today marks the University Libraries' fourth redesign of its public Web sites since 1997.

With each design, facilitating access to library collections and subscription content is the Libraries’ primary goal, ensuring that each landing page meets the needs of our diverse audiences—everyone from alumni to high school students.

Every month up to 53,000 visitors worldwide visit the library home page. The libraries’ public Web sites are constantly evolving and matching today’s changing academic and consumer lifestyles. The Libraries are consistently utilizing feedback from Web site visitors, library research data, and statistics to fine tune and prune its home page and public Web sites.

What's next?

Over the summer, we will be applying the new, accessible design to all University Libraries public Web sites.