Abbett.org

Usability of Brookline Library website

Update, June 30: Talk about responsive! The library website has already been updated, with hours and book search right there on the homepage. Bravo!

Every few months, I visit the Public Library of Brookline's website. Given my recurrent difficulties, I suspect it may have been designed for or by librarians, rather than patrons.

There are really two things I do on the library website: search for books, and check the hours. Unscientifically, but with my designer's hunch, I'd proffer than 98% of visitors want to do the same.

But how?

First, I see the logo... then I see the welcome image, then I'm drawn into the many links below, hunting for some information scent.

Ah, wait, there's a navigation bar. Maybe the library's books are under "what we have." I click -- nope, just bureaucratic memoranda.

At this point, a bit frustrated, I click back to the home page, and start to scroll.

Ah, a search box! My way out!

I enter the name of my book. Click. My search returned no results.

Only at this point do I notice a tiny collection of secondary navigation links in the upper right corner. Here's one: "Catalog." Younger readers of abbett.org might not be aware that in the olden days, a library's book records were stored in a giant wooden cabinet called a "card catalog." If you're under 18 -- and come on, how many library patrons are minors? -- you're SOL with that link.

"Hours & Contact" is up there too.

This is all a very long winded way of saying: put the most requested resources very conspicuously on your homepage. The top of the homepage should list the library's hours and provide a simple, Amazon-style search box for things in the library's collection (not library website content).

Longer term, the library folks should analyze their web site logs (and search logs!) to find out what are the most frequently sought piece of information -- and make those things the easiest to find.