Promoting the collections of an academic library
The University of Arizona Libraries
UX researcher | UX designer
2024
This project was the first I started working on when I joined the UX library team as an intern. It began with the goal of improving the findability of some library collections. The collection services department at the university library was concerned that students were not learning about certain collections that staff and library teams had spent significant time curating.
Project Goals
While students typically use the library to find materials for classes and assignments, the goal of this project was to expand the library’s role beyond academics. The aim was to encourage students to explore leisure reading and engage with the library in more personal and meaningful ways.
Our stakeholders envisioned these collections as a means to enhance student communication and interaction with the library, reviving its identity as a space for both academic pursuits and personal enjoyment. The collections were intended to transform the library into a hub for learning, creativity, and joy.
Project Scope
Promoting these collections required a multi-faceted approach. It involved improving the design of the library website, rethinking how collections are introduced online, enhancing wayfinding experience, and reimagining the physical arrangement of the library space.
The collection services team, our stakeholders, provided a list of curated collections they wanted to promote. Among these, a selection of leisure reading collections was highlighted as a priority.
This case study is particularly about promoting the collections on the website. The physical signage is studied in another case study.
Competitive Analysis
The purpose of this analysis is to examine how other libraries, both public and academic, promote their collections and materials. It explores the methods they use to raise awareness of the resources they provide and how they encourage users to browse and explore the library further.
Key Takeaways
Our competitive analysis revealed several key trends across the examples we studied. A gamified browsing experiencewas a common feature, with many libraries using interactive designs to make exploring collections more engaging. Additionally, the use of encouraging text and imagery stood out; these sections not only provided information but also motivated users to delve deeper into the collections. Another notable trend was the inclusion of a prominent homepage placement, where a dedicated section highlighted collections to ensure visibility and accessibility. Finally, we observed that the varied scope and features of browsing options depended on the size and number of collections, with larger libraries offering more sophisticated tools for exploration.
Issues with the Existing Design
This project faced some limitations, mainly related to the structure and maintenance of the library’s website. Since we were not working with all the collections owned by the library—many of which are managed by different departments—we focused on collections overseen by a single department. Due to these constraints, we could only dedicate one page on Primo (the library's discovery system used to search and access resources) to these collections.
The link to this webpage is accessible through the navigation bar on Primo pages and the pages that introduce all library materials. However, these location require multiple clicks to reach. In addition, these links are embedded in areas users typically visit while completing primary tasks, such as finalizing a book request or searching for specific headings. This placement limits their visibility and effectiveness in promoting the collections.
Recommended collections page.
Design Solution
The solution we developed, after exploring various design ideas and considering all conditions and possibilities for adding or changing website content, is a section of rotating cards on the homepage. These cards provide brief, engaging descriptions of the collection content, along with links to their respective webpages. As mentioned earlier, this design is currently dedicated to collections managed by one department. However, it is designed to be scalable, allowing for easy adaptation if the collection holdings expand or if other departments wish to include their materials in this promotional feature.
Testing and Evaluation Plan
The three card designs will be posted on the university website for a test period lasting one semester. During this time, we will monitor and compare the number of clicks each card receives, student interaction rates, and borrow requests for the collections to evaluate their effectiveness.