Giving to the Libraries

A Competent Site  It’s all here (but its all here)  Users have a telephone book, but they need a map

Context  Fall ‘08 – Consultant-led focus groups  Directed thinking about “core web strategies”  WST began discussion of strategies for a phased, top-down, public website redesign

Core web strategies  Create a more streamlined user experience based on user success - (the “core”)  Communications for news, events, engagement - (the “splash”)  Dynamic promotion of services, tools & physical spaces  Capture “spirit of the place” with updated visual design

Rehearsal Support the Libraries Friends of the Library

Create an integrated site that:  Serves FOL members  Appeals to donors at all levels  Makes online giving easy and comfortable especially for donors at lower levels of giving  Is branded with a distinct visual design ( Inspired by the UCLA Library Giving site.)

Converging forces Better Usability PCI Compliance Flexible Architecture GIVING SITE

Process  Get user input  Use data to support redesign decisions  Architect to best in class at peer and “inspiration” sites

User Studies  Highlight problems w/ existing site content and navigation  Get user feedback on grouping and labeling content  Get user reactions to site designs

Information Architecture  Linked images as navigation don’t work  Too much text “You waste too much space with text--too much to read. I want to click on something” – Chuck Poe  “Support the Libraries” FOL  “Events” not associated with FOL  Too much information buried in forms  These users don’t search!

Labeling  “Ways to Give” works as a label  Development “jargon” is a problem “investment opportunities” “gift of material” “planned giving” “direct gift” and even “endowments” all confused some users  Users group giving options by level of donation  Link labels and targets should match Call it what it is – if it’s giving form, label it “Giving Form”

Design  Don’t make me scroll  Don’t make me read  Don’t make navigation lists too long  Do use clear images of students in library spaces – show faces  Do use big pictures and open space around content

Giving Site

Summer/Fall Enhancements  Rotating art box  Enhanced treatment of naming opportunities (think U of Chicago)  Donor Profiles  Dedicated Hunt Library content  Branch Library Giving