Brooklyn Public Library
Targeted Book Search
Case Study
My Team
Sara (me), Vincent, Anastasia
My Role
UX Researcher, Lead UX Designer, and Interviewer
Project Overview:
We are undertaking a redesign of the Brooklyn Public Library’s website. Our initial assessment identified issues such as navigational redundancy, confusing filter systems, and overall inefficiencies.
Our redesign aims to address these deficiencies by implementing clear navigation, seamless search functionality, and personalized recommendations.
Research
Library Worker Interview
We gathered insights on website preferences, challenges, desired features, and future aspirations, helping us align the redesign with their needs and expectations.
Target Users
Identified that the website should cater to users of all ages who visit book-related websites. This broad target group helped us focus on making the site user-friendly for a wide audience familiar with book terminology and open to comparing the library website with others.
User Interviews
Users liked certain features but struggled with confusing filtering options. They wanted personalized recommendations and had trouble seeing the search button due to color scheme issues. These pain points guided our design process.
Problem Statement
User interviews revealed a common issue with the existing Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) website: difficulty navigating the filters during searches and viewing the extensive catalog to find books or other media. Our redesign aimed to address these key pain points—cumbersome navigation, clunky search functionality, and a lack of personalized recommendations. Our goal was to create a seamless and user-friendly experience that allows users to effortlessly discover, access, and reserve books that match their interests.
User Analysis & Insight
Affinity Diagram: Sorted interview insights into this diagram, highlighting users' likes (Staff Picks on the homepage), dislikes (confusing filtering system), and advice (need for a consistent filtering system).
I Like, I Wish, What If: By using the affinity diagram, we identified what users liked, what they wanted improved, and their ideas for the site.
SWOT Analysis: Conducted SWOT analyses of our competitors, examining their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. For example:
Strength: Clear navigation
Weakness: Outdated design
Opportunity: An up-to-date design that has a clear donation button
Threat: Library sites with simple design that focuses on a clear goal
Empathy Map: Created a user persona, Emma Young, an education-minded mother of two who frequently visits the BPL website for books and events for her kids. She needs easy access to the library catalog, up-to-date event info, and educational materials.
User Journey Map: Mapped out Emma's journey, focusing on her need to find children's resources, events, and materials on the BPL website.
Information Architecture & Design:
Card Sorting: Optimized the top navigation menu through card sorting, aiming to simplify navigation, improve user experience, and enhance information architecture for users of all ages.
User Flow: Identified 'Finding Desired Books' as a key task. Designed a user flow with three intuitive pathways: a robust search function, a refined filtering system, and a UI-driven Book Finder tool.
Wireframes: After refining our paper prototypes, we consolidated the best design elements into a cohesive low-fidelity prototype, setting the foundation for further refinement and testing.
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Team Skethches
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Lo-Fi Home Screen
Prototyping & Testing:
User Testing: Conducted usability tests with 5 participants ages 16 and above, of any gender, who enjoy reading, visit libraries or bookstores, or use online book websites. After testing our high-fidelity prototype, we identified several areas for improvement based on user feedback:
Spacing Issue When Selection Is Collapsed
No Apply Filter Button
Flip Card Was Only Available On The Home Page
Hi-Fi and Interactive Prototypes: Developed a high-fidelity, clickable prototype through several iterations based on user feedback. This final version ensures an intuitive and seamless experience for users to explore, discover, and engage with their desired books while demonstrating the redesigned website's flow and functionality.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways:
User-Centered Design: Prioritized user needs for an intuitive experience.
Improved Navigation: Streamlined to enhance usability.
Enhanced Search Functionality: Made more intuitive and efficient.
Personalized Recommendations: Included to boost user engagement.
Accessibility and Usability: Ensured inclusivity for all users.
Next Steps:
Iterative Design Development: Continuously refining interaction design based on user feedback and current design trends.
Navigation Redesign: Updating remaining site areas to align with the new style and functionality. Our aim is to build a dynamic, user-centered platform that evolves with our users' needs, offering an exceptional online experience that promotes discovery, learning, and community engagement.
Let's Get
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