Site research
qualitative research The building itself is what looks to be a house that is at least 100 years old. The building fits the aesthetic of the town in which most of the residences are of the same age. The exterior of the building is brick with white molding and decorative accents. The interior is very tastefully appointed with crown molding and decorative elements to the walls. All of the rooms are painted in relaxing pastel colors of blue and beige. The building is very clean and organized. In fact it seems like they take extra care to keep things as organized as possible. There are many places for people to leave books so that they don’t accidentally put them back in the wrong place. All of the surfaces were completely clean and I didn’t see any dusty surfaces or books during my visit. Everything seemed to be in good working order. Even the really old portions of the building were in working order. There was even an ancient light switch that had to be turned to operate. It worked perfectly. The library is unsurprisingly very quiet. Occasionally the muffled sound of a passing truck can be heard. There is a radio that plays soft rock classics, but it is extremely quiet and unobtrusive. Often, you hear the sound of another patron turning a page or the mouse clicking on one of the computers. It is a very comfortable building to be in, because it does still feel like a home. There The front room has two comfy armchairs and a large mirror next to a fireplace. The fireplace obviously isn’t in use, but it does provide a comfortable ambiance for readers. I did get a chance to interview one of the librarians. She was very knowledgeable, but she was only a part-time attendant and could only verify information from the two days per week that she works. When I arrived, she greeted me very pleasantly. I informed her of my assignment and she allowed me to take pictures and wander around the interior of the building. I also witnessed her answering questions for patrons and engaging in small talk about the weather.
personas
Fred Blanchard
• Male • Age 52 • High School Graduate • Machine Operator at a local factory Fred is a Machine Operator who works at a local factory making light fixtures. He has worked for the same company since he was 25 years old. He has never been handy with technology and doesn’t have a home computer. Recently, he accepted a position as a shop foreman for the local union. He relies on the library for access to his email accounts for communication with the union. He also appreciates that the librarians are there to help when he has questions. “Yeah, I like that there is someone here to help me if I don’t understand what’s going on with the computer. Which happens a lot.”
Goals
• Using the computer lab for internet access. • Keeping in communication through emails.
Genevieve Scott
• Female • Age 16 • High School Diploma in progress • Student Genevieve is a high school student who is currently studying for her SATs. She is hoping to get a high enough score to be accepted into a foreign study program in South Korea. She heads to the library every day after school and studies SAT subjects. When she isn’t studying, she peruses all of the cultural guidebooks on South Korea. The search kiosks have been very helpful in recommending the best places to find information. “It’s really quiet and comfortable here which helps me focus.”
Goals
• Find resources for SAT practice and study • Find cultural guidebooks for future travel • Search for resources in the library that serve a specific purpose.
Stacy Eagan
• Female • Age 29 • Bachelor’s Degree in Communications • Marketing Coordinator and Content Creator Stacy is a Marketing Coordinator who lives within walking distance of the library. Reading is a passion for her. So much so that she started writing reviews of the books she read and posting them on her blog. Every few days, she walks down to the library and trades her finished stacks of books for new arrivals. She enjoys the reading area of the library and often sits enjoying her new books for hours. She also takes advantage of the study tables to write reviews for her blog. “It’s really fun to pick out books because it’s like deciding where I am going on vacation to this week.”
Goals
• Find newly released books to review for a personal blog. • Enjoy the peaceful environment while reading or writing a review.
branding guidelines
dilemma The Whitehall Public Library caters to the need for internet and computer services for the town of Whitehall. However, the book catalog is often a secondary consideration for the current clientele. How do we increase readership in the visitors to library while still maintaining the computer needs in the current customer base?
solution Currently, the library has no noticeable card catalog or way to find specific information. Visible kiosks at the entry point will help visitors tos help what they need. These kiosks will function like a search engine, however web results will be shown last in favor of on-site book information. The Whitehall Public Library should also incorporate a comprehensive branding strategy that turns the library into a destination for the community. The branding component should include local references such as the birthplace of the U.S. Navy and the Sasquatch lore.
primary logo The primary logo is based on the iconography of books as the main focus of the Whitehall Public Library. The style represents a fresh outlook on the representation of libraries in the modern age of technology. Instead of reflecting traditional values, this logo aspires to evoke a fun and fresh atmosphere, much like that of a large bookstore or coffee shop. This new attitude to library branding will help users to feel more free and comfortable when using the facility. The elements of the logo are meant to represent the traditional historic aspects of the Whitehall Public Library. The books are an obvious depiction of the purpose of the library. The sailboat is meant to represent the beginnings of Whitehall as the birthplace of the United States Navy. The nautical references are one of the focus points for the tourism industry throughout the local area.
pictograms The pictograms reflect the shape of the logo. However, the contents of the container change depending on the subject. The typography also reflects the same slightly tilted view as the logo, but the center elements have changed. Each glyph is a stylistic match for the logo and helps users locate what they need at a glance.
patterns The patterns are meant to reflect both the nautical theme of the town and the original brick building. The blue pattern at first glance looks like fish scales. Since Whitehall sits at the junction of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River Canal system, the local waterways are an important visual element. However, the area where the scales meet is also reflective of the open spine of a book. In this way, both elements of Whitehall and Library Culture are represented. The second pattern reflects the brick pattern on the pathways outside of the building. In the sameway that the bricks provide a pathway to the knowledge in the library, this pattern provides a pathway for the user experience.
typography Baron neue regular abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890 Baskerville Regular ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890
the joy of reading “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
C 100 M 90 Y 10 K 0
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C 88 M 35 Y 0 K 0
R 37 G 64 B 143
R 0 G 135 B 203
C 87 M 76 Y 0 K 0
C 87 M 76 Y 0 K 0
R 60 G 85 B 165
R 60 G 85 B 165
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color palette The color palette revolves around several cool blue tones that are enriched by neutral gray and black. The blues represent the nautical theme of Whitehall. However, they are also meant to reflect a bright and happy atmosphere of the new library. This should be a place where people want to gather and spend their time. As such, the color palette of the new branding should reflect that attitude.
user experience
The Search for knowledge Upon entry to the library the user will be greeted by several kiosks. These will have a touch screen interface to mimic the ubiquitous user experience of a phone or tablet. The screens will ask a simple question: “What are you looking for?� The user is encouraged to type into a search bar very much like that of Google or Bing. With the exception that the Library kiosk will recommend books first and internet information as a secondary source. The user will then be directed to the physical location of the the book that they are looking for. This can be accomplished by viewing a map on the screen or viewing a map on an accompanying mobile app. This interface while improve the user experience by relating it to modern smart technologies rather than the slower card catalog technologies of the past. This will make the library more accessible for people who regularly use smart technologies.