Quick tips to remember while designing a digital library
Designing a digital library challenges a designer to provide an efficient way of structuring information and represent it close to a real library. When a user is in a digital library, the previous experience with real/virtual library influences the user expectations and user would want to see a similar structure and experience. As a starting point, keep the actual library in mind as a reference point and start designing or revamping a digital library.
While designing or revamping a digital library, we have two choices, one is metaphor based design where you create a digital library that is close to a virtual library or design a digital library that transcends the virtual library experience and provides a complete new experience. However, I should also confess that I am yet to discover a digital library that is radical in its experience.
This article focuses more on the metaphor based design which is close to a virtual library. Though some of the following points may seem applicable to designing of websites, they are equally relevant and important while creating a digital library.
Following points will help you get started with designing a user friendly digital library:
Keep the registration simple:
Always keep the registration process simple and crisp as this is a first step before a user access a library. To keep this simple, provide an option of integrating their existing email ids (social login) so that your library can get more registration and users can get access to information/library faster.
If you recall how one used to access real library, all that was expected was to meet a librarian and provide your name and phone number. While digitizing this step, keep it simple and crisp.
State the benefits of registration upfront
In the digital world of libraries, registration seems like a hindrance for a user that stops him from accessing information. To persuade users to create an account or register with your site, you should explain the benefits of registration before asking them to register. Convince the users to register by showing the relevance, benefits, number of people who are using the library, testimonials.
Many digital libraries fail to state the benefits and user is left thinking why one is forced to register to a site. Before you make a user fill a form, state the benefits along with any terms and conditions that may need user’s attention.
Include a robust search across the website
Searching is one of the primary activity in a digital library, ensure your search mechanism is the most dynamic and robust one with effective metadata. In most of the popular libraries, a long search bar is provided for search. This free field allows user to enter the search query without any character limitation. Also, auto suggestions are displayed after user enters a word/character. Results are also well categorized and displayed in a way that a user understands.
As a thumb rule, ensure search is provided in all the pages of the library with auto suggestion option. While displaying the results, keep the results page and reading layout of search display page simple.
Have effective and efficient Information Architecture (IA)
An effective and efficient Information Architecture (IA) is a must for all the websites. But for a library, it is most important that a user finds relevant information quickly and easily. Use card sorting exercise to arrive at efficient information grouping and labelling.
While grouping the various information categories, keep your users in mind and how they access information. It is also important to know the context and the environment in which the library is used.
Provide an efficient e-reader capability
It is very common that a user would want to see a preview or read a few pages of a book before downloading it. Do not forget to add an e-reader that provides pleasant reading experience. This helps a user to make a decision to download or read on-line.
Mention download time
Most digital libraries allow users to download books in many formats but always mention the approximate time taken to download a book with standard speed. This information helps user’s to make decision if they want to download now or later. If a user is accessing library using a phone/other devices, the user should be able to make decision to download depending on the time required to download.
Offer social media features
When a library is digitalized, it makes complete sense to make full use of social media features like sharing, rating and option to create a reading wish list. Include collaborative features to keep the users engaged. These feature help you achieve more interaction and help your library (website) get new traffic/users.
Include networking and collaborative features
Users expect learning avenues in digital library and would want to discuss and debate their interest with people who have similar interest. Networking and collaboration features help a library to be an active space for discussion and knowledge sharing than just a place of information repository.
Forums and option to create work groups to discuss and debate topics of interest help you to keep the users engaged. These are additional benefits seen in a few libraries.
Have a localization (translation) plan
Digital libraries are extended and enhanced libraries through digital technology. Considering the usability and different user needs, always provide library information in a few languages. To know which languages you need to consider on priority, refer your web analytic data to know the geography details of your user base. Depending on the usage patterns, have a translation plan to provide library information in many languages.
Provide an easy browsing listing option
Browsing refers to navigating without any specific purpose or goal. There is a slight difference between search and browse. Searching is carefully looking for information. Some of the common options that help people find what they want easily are lists, A-Z categories, grouping of information.
Apart from the afore mentioned quick tips, consider the most basic activities of a user in a digital library like discovering, retrieving, interpreting, managing and sharing before you start designing a digital library. When you know the order in which these activities are performed, task analysis and content priorities become clear and your design will help the users to meet their needs and the library becomes more accessible and user friendly.
