Western Libraries launches new website

Welcome to the New Western Libraries Website!

After a 15-month process of data gathering, outreach, usability testing, and re-design, the new website for Western Libraries is now live.  The new website design incorporated findings based on website analytics, best practices in web design, user-driven folksonomy creation, collegial and patron feedback, and usability testing.

For many students, staff, and faculty, the library website is the primary portal through which they discover and access collections, arrange for instruction support services, and connect with research expertise. Because of this, the library website must contain useful information and be accessible and easy to use.

Each main category of the menu bar on the top of the new homepage has a specific purpose and is designed to help promote discovery and access. More information about these categories is listed below:

• Find - Access to Western Libraries collections and information discovery systems are located within the ‘Find’ category.
• Use the Libraries - The majority of library services – such as borrowing materials, course reserves, study spaces, and more – are located within the ‘Use the Libraries’ category.
• Get Help - Information and services about library instruction, course design, and subject specific research are located within the ‘Get Help’ category.
• About - General library information – such as building hours, news and events, and staff directories – can be found within the ‘About’ category.
• My Accounts - Students, staff, and faculty can access library and other Western-affiliated accounts from this single page.

Western Libraries is committed to offering an excellent online experience for library patrons, and appreciates your feedback and your patience as they continue to implement improvements to the website in the coming weeks. Questions? Comments? Please contact the Libraries’ Head of the Resource Discovery Unit, Rebecca.Marrall@wwu.edu.