How did Glantz ensure the redesigned website would effectively serve a diverse user base, and what were the outcomes?

Glantz employed a human-centered approach, conducting stakeholder interviews across all departments and auditing existing content to understand diverse user needs. This resulted in an inclusive user experience that led to a significant decrease in patron phone calls regarding website usage.

What was Glantz's approach to CMS migration and empowering the library team for ongoing content management?

Glantz facilitated the migration from Drupal to WordPress, providing the library team with a flexible component approach and page templates. This empowered them to easily add, remove, or replace content and create new pages, ensuring a dynamic and evolving digital presence.

What strategic steps did Glantz take to inform the website's content and structure?

Glantz conducted an audit of all existing content and researched competitors to inform the necessary components for the new site. They also engaged with stakeholders from every department to understand diverse user needs and reorganize the site's pages effectively.

Non-ProfitPublic Library

St. Charles Public Library District

St. Charles Public Library: Inclusive Website Redesign & UX Case Study

Launch Website

The St. Charles Public Library District’s website was causing frustration for its patrons. They struggled to find the library’s services and browse its extensive collections.

Glantz partnered with the library for a comprehensive website redesign and redevelopment. Our goal was to give the website a user experience and visual overhaul that would feel authentic to the library’s brand new facility. We also helped their team transition from Drupal CMS to WordPress.

Wireframes showing user experiences for two very different user types: professional researchers and children.

A user experience that works for everyone

We knew we had to serve a broad audience. After all, libraries are for everyone. The new site needed to work for teenagers, professional researchers, parents, grandparents, children, just to name a few.

We worked with stakeholders to better understand these diverse users and their needs. We spoke with members of every department, including adult services, youth services, circulation, technology services, and research.

To reorganize the site’s pages, we conducted an audit of all existing content and researched the competition. This research informed a list of the necessary components, or content modules, the new site required. This approach aimed to create an inclusive experience for all patrons, regardless of their background or needs.

Screenshot of the full homepage for St. Charles Public Library District

Linking the physical and digital spaces

The library opened a new facility just before the redesign project began. Our design team took the opportunity to visit the site and draw inspiration from its architecture and interior design. This informed the visual concepts for the website. We matched the look and feel of the physical space to create a unified patron experience.

Collage showing how textured wallpaper at the St. Charles Public Library's facility inspired the visual design of the website.

We also used a flexible component approach with page templates. We trained their team on how to add, remove, or replace content and add new pages. This empowered the St. Charles Public Library District team to keep their users updated on upcoming events and the addition of new resources, databases, services, or collections.

A proven website upgrade

Since the site launch, library staff reported a significant decrease in phone calls from patrons struggling to use the website. Going forward, the library team will be able to scale the site with new offerings because of the modular approach and easy-to-edit backend, creating a dynamic and evolving digital presence that serves its patrons well.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1 How did Glantz ensure the redesigned website would effectively serve a diverse user base, and what were the outcomes?: Glantz employed a human-centered approach, conducting stakeholder interviews across all departments and auditing existing content to understand diverse user needs. This resulted in an inclusive user experience that led to a significant decrease in patron phone calls regarding website usage.
2 What was Glantz's approach to CMS migration and empowering the library team for ongoing content management?: Glantz facilitated the migration from Drupal to WordPress, providing the library team with a flexible component approach and page templates. This empowered them to easily add, remove, or replace content and create new pages, ensuring a dynamic and evolving digital presence.
3 How did Glantz ensure the new website's design was consistent with the library's brand and physical presence?: The design team visited the library's new facility to draw inspiration from its architecture and interior design. This informed the visual concepts for the website, creating a unified look and feel that matched the physical space and felt authentic to the library's brand.
4 What strategic steps did Glantz take to inform the website's content and structure?: Glantz conducted an audit of all existing content and researched competitors to inform the necessary components for the new site. They also engaged with stakeholders from every department to understand diverse user needs and reorganize the site's pages effectively.