Library website re-design surveys

The Department of Library Services is in the process of re-designing the current website to ensure that it represents that of a 21^st Century library. This comes in response to feedback obtained from surveys taken by users, indicating that the Library website is difficult to navigate. The analytics reflect a constant decline in the use of the library website.

Staff and students were involved in the development of the website by taking into account the feedback from the surveys they completed, ensuring that the library develops a website that meets users’ needs. This gave the library insight into the users’ perceptions and experiences concerning the current website. Moreover, users were given a chance to make suggestions regarding the new look of the website.

The first survey was run in November 2019, to determine how the library staff feel about the current website. A total of 42 staff members across different units responded, resulting in a 31% response rate. Majority of the library staff (59%) feel that the current website meets their needs, but only 47% find it easy to navigate, the common reason being that many tabs hide important information. Only 31% of the staff members consider the website visually appealing. Most think it is static and clustered, and that the design could do with the upgrade. The staff were given a further opportunity to mention pages that they consider problematic and to make suggestions regarding the design of the website.

In February 2020, the UP community made its contribution to the development of the new website via a web survey that was promoted via our social media channels. There were 163 respondents, 88% of which are undergraduate students, 10% postgraduate students, 1% support staff and 1% academic staff. Since this sample is not a good representation of the total population, the results cannot be generalised, however, we have a better idea of our users’ perceptions. Furthermore, previous feedback (obtained through LibQUAL survey, Institutional Survey and Rate Us) has been taken into consideration.

The users’ feedback was quite positive.  They consider the Library website to be visually appealing and meet their needs. Most users also find it easy to obtain the information that they search for. The search function appears to be the most used and preferred function on the entire website. All the feedback, suggestions and recommendations have impacted the direction that the web designers need to take.