The Architecture and Planning Library redesign is now complete and moved to production. Many new improvements have been made to the information architecture, design and content integration to improve user interaction and reduce maintenance efforts.
Information architecture improvements include a new site layout which chunks content together logically and allows for easier lateral navigation. A horizontal navigation was created to classify main sections. We are now using active states to highlight the main and subsections a user visits, thus providing context and wayfinding clues. The redesigned home page spotlights new applications we’ve recently developed and allows for more continuity with the main Libraries home page and the recently redesigned Fine Arts Library.
A new design was created to integrate within the Libraries approved secondary template. This design includes a new secondary header throughout the APL site so the user easily recognizes what branch they are in. The header includes a new logo providing the full branch name and includes rotating images representing the library. Colors and graphics for the new design was drawn from collections in the branch. To separate the main content from the surrounding site a new treatment was applied to visually raise the main content and to separate the horizontal navigation by providing a distinct look for easy recognition.
Content integration and reduced maintenance has been improved by adding the site to the Content Management System and integrating Recent Arrivals, APL Highlights, and Hours. The APL Library Branch is the second branch to be integrated and managed in the Libraries’ CMS with PCL being the first. The addition of Recent Arrivals, Highlights and Hours reduce bloat by including only recent content and reduce maintenance by integrating content from the Catalog, Blog, or a central application. APL Highlights is managed through a blog, cached and displayed on the Highlights page and on the branch home page. Hours is also displayed in the branch site but maintained in a central application.
TIS would like to thank the Architecture and Planning Library Staff and Library Systems for their important collaboration.
Posted by steve on November 20, 2009 at 12:55 pm
We had a nice turnout for the Fall 2009 Web Author Gathering. Thanks to all who came. If you were not able to attend you can review the power point as a linked PDF below. Matt reviewed recently completed projects and soon to be completed projects. I provided an introduction to the benefits of using a javascript framework, what javascript framewark we are using, current ways we are using it, and how Developers and Web Authors can use it. Finaly we touched on Fall cleaning and answered questions.
Web_Author_Gathering_Fall 2009 (PDF)
Posted by steve on October 30, 2009 at 12:20 pm
The Technical Services Staff Web Site has been refreshed with updated content, interface, and navigation and transitioned into the Libraries’ SharePoint site. The previous site was outdated, difficult to navigate and cumbersome to maintain. A project proposal for updating the site was submitted and discussions on content and user interaction began.
The Libraries’ SharePoint site was chosen to improve content updating by not relying on a central “Web Author” and by providing a browser interface requiring no HTML/CSS knowledge. Directories can be mounted on personal desktops for easy updating of documents. In addition permissions can be managed through the interface and can be assigned as fine as item level. SharePoint also provides the added benefit of Wikis, Web Parts (blocks of content), Notifications on content updates and many other options. In order to simplify the presentation and improve recognition of navigation elements a new SharePoint theme was created.The new site has been handed over to TS and with minimal staff training content updates are now occurring.
Posted by steve on October 16, 2009 at 9:02 am
Technology Integration Services has added two new features to the Libraries Web Site footer.
The addition of linked social icons allows users to easily access the Libraries top social sites from any Library page. Adding these icons improves user discovery and improves exposure of these resources. “Follow us” tool tips have also been incorporated for user clarification.
A second feature is the incorporation of a “Support Us” graphic linking to the University giving form. This feature pre-selects the Libraries and also selects the appropriate branch when the user chooses support us from within a branch.
TIS would like to thank the Library Development Office and Library Instruction Services for their collaboration.
Posted by steve on October 15, 2009 at 11:41 am
In order to improve feedback on web site issues TIS has implemented a new form. This form is linked in the footer of each page with a label of “Web Site Feedback”. Use this form to flag the following…
* Inaccurate, outdated, or inaccessible content
* Content that is redundant, too wordy, or not formatted for the Web
* Broken links
* Other content issues or comments
Features we have built into the form include a URL field pre-populated with the previous URL, a re-sizable comment box, clear notification of what the form is intended for, a spam blocker that is only required once per user session, and a confirmation page that prints the user’s comment and provides a link back to the original URL.
The form’s ease of use has been accounted for by separating out three main sections; the required Comments, the optional About You, and the Spam Blocker. Each section is wrapped in a fieldset and each input can be tabbed in order.
Once a submission is received TIS will notify the appropriate web author and work with the web author to make appropriate updates. If the submitter provides contact information an update will be provided. For easy tracking a e-mail is automatically generated and each submission is recorded in the Libraries Content Management System.
We hope that this new system will help us start to address redundancy and bloat which are common issues in library web sites and which our User Services division has identified as a priority concern. Any redesign efforts we undertake in the future will be helped significantly by leaner, cleaner content.
Posted by steve on September 15, 2009 at 1:57 pm
We are pleased to announce the publication of the For Education section on Avoice. The For Education section ties Avoice exhibit resources with K-12 lesson units. The first phase includes the “Voting Rights act of 1965”, the “Anti-apartheid Movement,” and the “Environmental Justice Movement.” Each lesson includes Learning Objectives, Activities, Documents and Worksheets, and integrates the lesson into National Learning Standards. Thanks go to Meg Kemp of TIS and Alison Koostra of the CBCF for bringing this project to completion by the requested date.
The For Education publication completes a series of updates provided by the University of Texas Libraries Technology Integration Services and Library Systems. The additional updates include integrating the News Releases and News Listing with a new RSS feed to insure easy maintenance and consistency. Further improvements include a new Webcast, a new Environment Justice exhibit, and several updates to the existing exhibits including metadata support for the popular research tool Zoltero. Finally, improvements were made to the site’s HTML and CSS, and the site received a thorough refresh of its programming.
We would like to thank the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Library Systems for helping use complete these updates by the requested time frame.
For further information about Avoice and the Congressional black Caucus Foundation visit the Avoice About page.
Posted by steve on September 10, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Our users spoke, and we listened!
After several comments came in via the website from users who missed being able to Renew items from the homepage, we decided to add it back!
Some background:
When LIBsearch was introduced a couple months ago, the quick links box went away. We had tested whether users could still Renew items without a dedicated link and they had no problems with the task. However we recognized the potential that this particular link might be missed and planned to assess adding it back in conjunction with upcoming homepage content modifications.
Our thinking was:
Since it is not a link just for Students or just for Faculty/Staff, it didn’t belong down in that lower left section. There was a suggestion to add a Renew button to the LIBsearch box but we wanted to keep that functionality of the search box as searching only.
So, after reviewing our page’s architecture and some other sites for guidance, we elected to add it to the top right utilities area of the site on all pages, as shown below.
We see this as a solution that allows us to add back in a popular link in the most logical place within the current page. When the homepage modifications take place, it is possible the Renew link will be featured elsewhere, in a more logical place.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We hope this makes our users happier and aids in easy and satisfying use of our site!
