The report profiles the website redesign efforts of six major US research university libraries – New York University, the University of Idaho, Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, Dartmouth College and the University of Miami. Each profile is based on detailed interviews with two or three major players in the website redesign efforts of these universities. The report was written by Cynthia Schwarz, Lead Technology Coordinator at Temple University Libraries in Philadelphia. Cynthia holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. She is responsible for all project management related to library systems, both those developed internally and those provided through vendors
Among the many issues explored in the 51-page report:
· Approaches to end user testing and assessment and appropriate uses of the resulting data and observations
· Development and management of teams of library staff from different library constituencies to guide website development
· Marketing of new and adjusted websites within the library and to students, faculty and other end users.
· Website navigability and ease of use
· Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Content Management Systems and Services
· Policies on Who in the Library can update content
· Integration of Discovery Vehicles into the Website
· Ways to encourage discovery and use of specified library services
· Library efforts to serve those accessing the site through mobile devices
And much more. Learn their war stories; what they have done; what they wish they had done; what they will do.
Note that the primary research approach in this report is through long, detailed, journalistic-style interviews predominantly though not exclusively focused on qualitative information.