Beta test invites public to provide input.

The UCR Library has announced the successful beta launch of our new library website. On February 1st, 2016 library presented the redesign for public testing and comment. The beta site, available at betalib.ucr.edu, presents a cleaner, sleeker, ADA-compliant, and mobile and tablet-friendly interface that highlights the library’s services, collections, and resources.

The new website is the culmination of a year’s effort to understand and support our varied community of users and their needs, enhance features and usability, and simplify design and navigation. New features include:

• Increased detail and prominence for library’s notable collections
• New opportunities for instructional support
• Accurate, easy to find, and up-to-date information, including Hours prominently displayed on homepage
• Easy access to locating equipment such as printers, copiers, scanners, and computers in each library facility
• Improved sign-up systems for workshops and booking study rooms

Alexandra Dolan-Mescal, the library's Web Developer and User Experience Designer, leads the website redesign team. "Our guiding design principle was that users come to the library website to gather information or complete an action," reflected Dolan-Mescal. "We made the layout simple and easy to navigate and re-worked content to be succinct and concise to ensure that users get what they need quickly and smoothly."

Help us make the new website the best it can be by providing your comments at betalib.ucr.edu/comments. We will continue to iteratively enhance the site based on comments and targeted user testing.