Information Architecture for Cabarrus County Public Library

Challenge

To propose a new experience for the Cabarrus County Public Library website by understanding business and user requirements.

Approach

I  was familiar with various library websites, but needed to learn more about Cabarrus county specifically, who their website users were, what their goals were as well as common tasks and pain points. I conducted two stakeholder interviews with library staff members to learn about the library’s website and the goals of the users who currently visit it.

There are a wide variety of library patrons that access the library website. Some of the user groups include mothers with young children, students and teachers who rely on the library’s website as a convenient tool. 

I combined my user research with an analysis of the current website. I reviewed the existing content and sitemap against primary user tasks. This information helped me prepare wireframes that I could test with potential users. 

Final Product

I pulled together a final report for the library staff which presented an overview of my research findings and annotated wireframes.

These are personas created for primary and secondary users.

These tasks represent the most important tasks the personas are trying to accomplish on the website.

The sitemap takes into account the main tasks users are trying to perform as well as content that is being repurposed and developed. The site is organized using an ​ambiguous classification scheme which includes both topical and task oriented ways to classify information.

I used a tree test to identify findability issues within my sitemap. Users were presented with five tasks that they needed to complete within the sitemap.

I sketched several different designs for the homepage and considered options for designs that support the main tasks.

I used my sketches to help design wires in Balsamiq for several primary user tasks.