Mt. Prospect library happy with response to new website
The Mount Prospect Public Library's redesigned website has been up for about a month, and library leaders say they're pleased with the response so far.
“A few people have told us they like the old one better, but overall, the reaction has been very positive,” said Cathy Deane, deputy director for public service.
The library rolled out the remodeled mppl.org in late June. The home page immediately introduces readers to upcoming events, staff blogs and a gallery of featured books, e-books, DVDs, children's items and more. The featured items change regularly.
The new version smooths out and streamlines a number of navigational issues on the old site, Deane said. For instance, a menu bar near the top of the homepage allows you to “hover” over an item with the cursor and bring a list of choices into view.
“You can get where you're going in one or two clicks instead of multiple ones,” Deane said.
The site also allows users to establish timesaving MPPL accounts. A MyMPPL account makes it easy for a user to access the library's research databases and comment on blogs without repeatedly re-entering information.
Users also can add up to three additional library cards to their accounts, an option particularly beneficial to parents who would like to manage their children's checkout/return activities.
“We call these 'family accounts,'” webmaster Chris Amling said. “Parents can see when their kids' books are due, for instance, without having to enter their kids' library card numbers separately. It's one-stop shopping,”
Library officials have made a number of tweaks to the site since its launch, some in response to user suggestions. For example, users complained that library's hours were not easily found on the redesigned site, so an hours icon was added to the top of the home page.
The library website received between 50,000 and 60,000 visits each month prior to the redesign. Amling said it's too soon to say whether traffic has increased as a result of the changes.