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University Libraries’ website has a new look. A team composed  of library faculty and staff members, and members of University Communication and Marketing’s Web team have been working on the redesign project for more than a year. Web committee member Ken Burhanna explains that the new design focuses on three goals: “To better integrate the library into the look and feel of Kent State’s Web presence, to make the site easier to navigate and use, and to increase opportunities for reaching new audiences on and off campus.”

Users should encounter a more engaging and dynamic University Libraries Web presence, but they will also find all the resources, tools and services they have come to rely on.
 
What should users know about the new site? “Most of the changes will be seamless,” says Burhanna. “University Libraries’ Web URL will be www.kent.edu/library, but this address has always taken you to University Libraries. We’ve also worked hard to put redirect URLs in place. So if you’ve bookmarked library pages, those links won’t be broken, but instead will redirect you to similar pages on the new site.”
 
The University Libraries’ Web committee gathered lots of input to inform their design process. Over the past year, they have undertaken focus groups, card sorting exercises, surveys and wire frame testing to gather feedback on the needs of University Libraries’ website.

A formal usability study is planned for the fall. If you or your students are interested in participating in a usability test of the new site, please send a note to Diane Sperko at dsperko@kent.edu. All feedback about the new site is welcome. Share your feedback at the “How Are We Doing?” link found at the bottom footer area of every page on the University Libraries website.