Library Homepage Comparative Analysis

We analyzed library homepages to see how common elements are used and displayed.

Background

As preparation for an MSU Libraries website migration, we conducted research about other academic library homepages. We identified typical elements of library homepages, and completed a comparative analysis to see how our peers present those homepage and website elements to users.

Methods and Data Sources

• Method: Comparative Analysis
• Data sources: All BTAA library homepages and selected large academic libraries, public libraries, and museum homepages

What We Found

Similarities

• MSU Libraries handles the header, footer, and main navigation elements similarly to our peers.
• Most pages had social media links and a link to donate or support the library, but placement varied.
• All direct comparables had an icon, link, or chat box for library help on the top right of the homepage, but labeling (e.g., "Ask a Librarian") and additional placement on the page varied.
• Most sites had a prominent "search everything" box as the main search option.
• A way to find the hours of physical locations was a part of every direct comparable homepage, but the interfaces varied. The most common interfaces were a list of links to dedicated hours pages, and sections or menus that displayed hours directly on the homepage.

Differences

• Many home pages were longer and required more scrolling than the current MSU Libraries page.
• A single column with horizontal sections was more prevalent than a sidebar-and-main-content layout for homepages. Only a few comparable sites had sidebars.
• Most sites had more use of graphic elements throughout the page, including icons, photos, and symbols.
• Some sites had a more prevalent use of institutional branding, terms, and mascots.
• News and events were more often text-based or drawn from a blog feed, and were frequently combined with each other in a single section. MSU Libraries' use of a carousel was atypical.
• More than half of library pages have no dedicated homepage space for exhibits. For sites that had them, many of the exhibits sections were combined with news and events into one list.
• MSU Libraries was the only site among our direct comparables to have a social media feed embedded in the homepage.
• Most sites had a quick links section, but tended to have more graphical elements and briefer calls to action ("book a room") than MSU Libraries' current list of text links.

Recommendations

• Explore using additional graphical design elements as prominent elements of a simple and modern style.
• Complete card sorting activities to create improved menu categories and labels.
• Explore using "mega menus" to provide multi-column options in main navigation links for large menu categories.
• Many sites offered a way to only search the library website, and we recommend keeping this functionality for the MSU Libraries site.

Contact

Joshua Sanchez

Project Staff

• Joshua Sanchez
• Robin Dean
• Shelby Kroske

Project Dates

August 2019 to October 2019