All PPLD facilities will be closed Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day.
PPLD.org and The Catalog may also be unavailable intermittently as we run server updates.

Welcome to our NEW website!

Click here to tell us what you think!

Welcome to the NEW ppld.org!
Some new and improved features include:

Research Subject Guides
Find a Good Book
Search for location by Zip Code

The Catalog and My Account are NOT affected by the new website.

Why are we doing this project?

PPLD has outgrown its website.
A new organizational structure needs to be implemented to accommodate PPLD’s needs, present and future.
Certain web technologies need to be implemented to optimally serve our patrons.

Project Objectives

Construct a website that reflects patron and staff needs, as determined by usability studies.
Construct a website that is easy to navigate, encouraging a positive Library experience.
Construct a website structure that will accommodate future Library online growth.
Implement best practices for highlighting features and services on ppld.org.
Implement a website that complies with accessibility and web design best practices.

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Comments

New site feedback

Submitted by Mike (not verified) on Sat, 07/31/2010 - 1:26pm.

I like the new look of the landing page. However, I see much room for improvement.

What was most disturbing was this: "The Catalog and My Account are NOT affected by the new website." This was very disappointing as these are the features my wife and I use the most on the website and they suffer from a severe lack of intuitive usability.

Forgive my seeming "bossiness" in the following feedback. I'm a software engineer by trade, and I frequently write requirement specs. Hence, in the spirit of improvement, I'm going to use "requirement specification" language in the following feedback.

To bring the new PPLD.org website up to modern website standards, the following must be implemented:

- the login text boxes must be directly on the front / main / landing page of the new website (NOT hidden under a "my account" link)
- the login functionality must consist of 2 separate user name and password text boxes
- the username must consist of an easy-to-remember / intuitive user name (ie NOT the library card number as is currently used today; this is NOT secure and NOT very easy to remember)
- the password must consist of at least 8 alphanumeric and special characters (ie NOT a 4-digit pin as is currently used today which is highly insecure)
- once a user is logged in, an intuitive session status indicator must be visible. this indicator will inform the user that they are currently logged in and should log out when finished.
- once a user is logged in, a logout button must be made available to the user in a highly visible location.
- once a user is logged in, the logout button and session status indicator must be located in the same area of the web page. A typical placement of the session status indicator and logout button is the upper right corner of the webpage.
- once a user is logged in, the session status indicator and logout button must be visible from all webpages surfed to on the ppld.org website.
- once a user is logged in, the session shall remain open until either 1) the user logs out manually via clicking the logout button or 2) the session auto-times-out.
- the session auto-time-out should default to some reasonable amount of time (1 hour is suggested)
- the session auto-time-out timer resets any time website activity is detected by the server.
- the session auto-time-out must be configurable. this is typically done via a user's preferences webpage. (I consider this a bonus feature.)
- once a user is logged in, any materials checked out / reserved / put on hold are automatically reflected in their account in real-time.

This is just a start that ought to smooth out many of the issues that have frustrated me when using ppld.org's website.

Given the multitude of open source (ie free as in ZERO dollars for a license) software packages out there today, there must be something that can easily provide this functionality out of the box without a lot of development time.

Not sure who is working on the library website now, but if you need someone to consult and help improve the user experience of the library's website, shoot me an email.

Cheers,
Mike

Hi Mike, thanks for your

Submitted by admin on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 9:42am.

Hi Mike, thanks for your input. Let me address your concerns:

1. The Catalog/My Account are a vendor supported software package to which we subscribe. As a result, there is very little we can do to customize it besides "look and feel". This is also why they are not included in the redesign.
2. The login boxes are on the home page of the Catalog. The reason they are not on the home page of ppld.org is it is not necessary to log in to use the majority of our services on ppld.org. Including a login box where one is not needed may confuse our patrons.
3. Our Catalog vendor (Sirsi/Dynix) requires library card/pin authentication to access user accounts. This is not something we can change. The same goes for session indicators. We keep our PIN length 4 digits by default, but patrons can make the numeric PIN any length they'd like. To change your PIN to a longer number please contact your library branch.
4. The logout button is on the top nav bar of every page of the Catalog. We'll look into more obvious places to put this, including the upper right-hand corner of the Catalog.
5. The logout button is visible on every page of the Catalog. Because the Catalog and ppld.org are two distinct entities, the logout button is not necessary on ppld.org.
6. Our session time-out is pretty short. This is because the same login methods are used on our inhouse machines in which patrons often forget to log out. A short time-out is a necessary evil in this situation.
7. Once a patron is logged in, all charge-outs, holds, and overdues are reflected in the account in real time.

Thank you so much for your concerns. I hope my reply clarifies the reasoning behind some of the Catalog's more frustrating quirks.

We will be evaluating other vendors for our Catalog in the future, some of which I'm sure will be open source. We are using open source software for the ppld.org redesign (Drupal). However, in this case there has been a lot of development time spent constructing the new website. :-)

We may do one more usability study before or right after the launch. We'll contact you if you are interested in participating.

Cheers,

Virginia

taking suggestions

Submitted by Kenneth (not verified) on Tue, 09/21/2010 - 10:54am.

I have to say that the biggest usability problem with the current web site is the defensive posture of the library with respect to it's technology choices/implementation.

Every suggestion is met with a defense of the current implementation. It's frankly insulting to those of us with experience in software/UX professions. Do you want community input, or do you already have all the answers? Mike above gave some very sane suggestions - I'd suggest you look into implementing them.

Sirsi/Dynix is particularly annoying. Having lived in several other cities, I can say that the PPLD catalog experience is painful. It's atrocious abuse of Javascript and violation of basic usability standards is shocking. I've offered a couple of simple suggestions in the past, and was told that "the system is the best available," and so on.

Is there a good reason the new site doesn't use HTML 5?

New website

Submitted by Saralyn (not verified) on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 4:16pm.

here are some notes:

The color scheme is good. Earthy and neutral but with some textures.

I like the banner with a partial snap shot polaroid. What if that picture changed, like the website had a dozen different pics it could randomly choose from when loaded?

The rollover colors are decent. Perhaps the rollover color on the Bold items on the upper left (headed by RESEARCH) should be something other than white. A color that, when the cursor is on it, is a more subtle change.

I like the HOW DO I? pulldown. It is like an FAQ w/o having to navigate to a separate page. Ditto for branch info.

The buttons that include Adult Literacy, Computers, Cyber Shelf look out of place. Maybe move above the slideshow and/or make the buttons a smaller continuous strip.

Catalogue website

Submitted by Pam Chaddon (not verified) on Sat, 07/24/2010 - 2:48pm.

While you are revamping your website, it would be nice to have some addition capabilities in the catalogue account/search website. It would be nice to login and stay logged in when searching and requesting material. In addition, it would be nice for the system to default to your home branch when requesting material, after logging in. It is frustrating to have to keep logging in after a search just to request an item. And it is also frustrating that the default branch is always East Branch. Also, PPLD's search is not as thorough as other libraries we have used in other states. I went to World Catalogue to request an item I thought PPLD did not carry because I could not find it. But World Cat said PPLD did carry it. I just had to change around the search options several times to find it. Thanks for listening. The branches and staff are fantastic!

Thanks for your input.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 12:46pm.

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately the Catalog is a separate piece of software that we subscribe to from a vendor so we have very little control over its functionality. However, let me address your concerns:

If you type your library card number and PIN in the upper right hand corner of the Catalog it will log you in and keep you in until your session expires.
Please contact the library at 389-8968 to have your account updated with your home branch. After we've updated your account, your home branch will be the default branch for hold items
We are investigating options for the Catalog to improve the search feature and hope to improve this area before too long.

I hope this answers your questions. Please reply below if I can be of further assistance.

"select a library"

Submitted by nkuberski on Sat, 07/24/2010 - 12:50pm.

Carnegie / special collections isn't listed as a library and it is on the current web page.

That's correct because

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 12:37pm.

That's correct because Carnegie / Special Collections is located IN the Penrose Library.

the new site

Submitted by Dianne (not verified) on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 11:40pm.

I think your new site looks like it's going to be wonderful. It looks comprehensive, well-organized, and easy to navigate. I'm excited to see it go live. I think you're definitely on the right track.

new homepage

Submitted by Kari (not verified) on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 11:37am.

I like the new homepage, but I have one suggestion/request. I would LOVE to see a quick link on the homepage to the Interlibrary loan area. It takes so many clicks to get there now & I'm not sure where it would be located on this new site... but that's one thing I use alot, and it would be great to have a quicker way to get there.

Thanks for all your work on this.

Interlibrary loan is located

Submitted by admin on Fri, 07/23/2010 - 1:11pm.

Interlibrary loan is located under "Research". You'll find the link in the left toolbar on that page. While ILL is a popular service, we don't highlight it on the home page because we want to encourage patrons to check the Catalog first. Thanks for the kind words!

new web site

Submitted by Elyse Yeager (not verified) on Wed, 07/21/2010 - 4:41pm.

Your new site lags all the time. My holds are being reorganized without my input. I know it is still under construction, but right now I give its user friendliness a negative number.

Thanks for the heads up about

Submitted by admin on Thu, 07/22/2010 - 9:53am.

Thanks for the heads up about the lag. We'll look into it. It is definitely one of our concerns as we are using Drupal and want to make sure it is configured correctly. As far as your holds are concerned, the redesign does not affect the Catalog. Please contact your local branch to pursue this issue.

time out error

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 10:46pm.

Hello,

The new website looks great, but I am having a problem searching the catalog and logging in to renew my materials. It seems anytime I try I get a message that the session has timed out and to login to start a new OPAC session. Nothing works.

Just wanted to let you know!

Thanks :)

I think this may be a cookies

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 3:19pm.

I think this may be a cookies issue on your browser. Please refer to the following document for assistance:

http://more.ppld.org:8080/catalog/catalogfaqs.pdf

Thanks for the kind words!

I will have to know more

Submitted by Mona (not verified) on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 6:41pm.

I will have to know more about it. It will take some getting used to.

Please let me know if there

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 3:21pm.

Please let me know if there are any specific questions I can answer for you.

New website

Submitted by Rebecca Ferguson (not verified) on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 5:56pm.

I just completed the survey and asked for a new website and discovered that you are already working on this. Great job! I really like the new look - it already feels streamlined and easier to find the additional services and programs you offer. I look forward to using the site more frequently to access these. My only complaint (with the old system and maybe you have already fixed it) is that when browsing for materials to borrow I would repeatedly have to re-enter my account information to place a hold on an item when using the online catalog at the library I frequent. I hope that this bug is corrected in the new system and look forward to trying it out. Thanks for your attention to this matter and all your hard work to provide this important resource for the community.

Hi Rebecca, I think FAQ #3 on

Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 3:23pm.

Hi Rebecca, I think FAQ #3 on this document may help you:

http://more.ppld.org:8080/catalog/catalogfaqs.pdf

Thanks for the kind words!

really helpful and user friendly!

Submitted by Elizabeth (not verified) on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 4:08pm.

this new website is great! i especially like the hours link, and the colors of the background are much better than the old website. its easier on my eyes. good job!

New website looks promising.

Submitted by Jack Shuttleworth (not verified) on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 1:40pm.

New website looks promising. Easier to navigate. Thanks

THIS IS REALLY NICE! DON'T

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 5:39am.

THIS IS REALLY NICE! DON'T LET IT GET TOO BUSY. CLARITY IS A MUST. LOVE THE COLORS.

Thanks for the kind words.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 9:00am.

Thanks for the kind words. We'll do our best not to add anything else to the home page...

New site

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/13/2010 - 6:30pm.

Looks very good, I guess I should spend more time on it!

Too many objects

Submitted by Dan Gould (not verified) on Tue, 07/13/2010 - 4:43pm.

New website is not too bad, but it is far too cluttered.

Yeah, we have a number of

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 8:59am.

Yeah, we have a number of features we need to highlight on the home page. We're trying to keep it as simple as possible while still being aesthetically pleasing.

new site

Submitted by Alice Shartran (not verified) on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 8:28pm.

It looks like it will be a bing improvement in navigation. I always have trouble spotting how to even get to my account. Colors are better. It is easier to read.

pic

Submitted by Elisabeth (not verified) on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 5:03pm.

your pic is soooo colorado:)

HTML5?

Submitted by Daniel O'Connor (not verified) on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 4:04pm.

I was just curious to if the new site was being done in HTML5 and/or is there going to be a molble vesion aswell? I have an iPhone and would love to be able to fully acses the site.

Hi there, we are using a

Submitted by admin on Sun, 07/11/2010 - 1:07am.

Hi there, we are using a Drupal, a content management framework, that is written in php. It's possible that the code we enter is HTML5, but I'm really not sure. However, we have tested the new site on many different handheld devices and it works quite well.

feedback

Submitted by The Sharps (not verified) on Fri, 07/09/2010 - 12:16pm.

We like this new website much better. Links to the local Health and Fitness directory would greatly benefit everybody (Gyms, dance studios, health food stores, ext).
Thanks the Sharps

LOVE the new site!

Submitted by J.R. Young (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 3:19pm.

Way to Go! Much better.....don't use the old site much. Keep up the great work! Pleez remember to keep developing for mobile usage....love my Android....took this survey from my 3G, Android based, cell fone. Thx for improving!
J.R.

The homepage seems TOO

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 1:36pm.

The homepage seems TOO crowded. Also, it would benefit from a more updated font type or size and varying the size helps with reading. Also, check for consisitency of using capitialzation. One final comment, the brown color is less than interesting; color can generate a feeling or sense of excitement and interest. It just seems too staid.

Looks awesome!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 11:42am.

Looks awesome!

suggestions

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 9:35am.

I just completed the survey and now a suggestion comes to me. Don't know if this is doable, but I can't understand why there is a category "My List" when it doesn't save it. I would like to have this list save, and then be able to transfer a book from my list to a hold. The list could hold any type of item.

Thanks, Teri

We've asked for this

Submitted by admin on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 10:02am.

We've asked for this enhancement on our Catalog software and hope to see it on our next upgrade. Unfortunately, since the Catalog is third party software we have very little customization capabilities. Thanks for your input!

New Website

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 5:34am.

Looks great! I like how everything is laid out. Looks easy to navigate and pages load quickly! Way to go!! :)

New website

Submitted by Kathleen (not verified) on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 8:12pm.

I haven't made good use of the previous website because of an older slow computer, however, this site appears easy to navigate. I have a new and faster computer and have added the PPLD site to my favorites. I personally like the brown and sage color combination - two of my favorite colors.

At a quick glance, it looks

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 7:32pm.

At a quick glance, it looks good. I like the assorted reading lists.

new website feature

Submitted by Teresa Board (not verified) on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 7:07pm.

I like the "how do I" pull down menu.

Looks good!

Submitted by Melissa Stalcup (not verified) on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 4:16pm.

I really like the new website - it looks and feels more modern and is easy to navigate.

Find a good book

Submitted by Jenny Moore (not verified) on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 10:11am.

It sure would be great to put in a reading level for my child and a few key words and use this to find books that are at the appropriate reading level and interesting for her to read!

Thanks for the input, have

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 11:04pm.

Thanks for the input, have you tried our Book Ideas section on the Kids Web?

http://more.ppld.org:8080/kids/bookideas/default.asp

Awesome!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/06/2010 - 8:56pm.

I think the set up of the website is very well put together; the Garden of the Gods picture is MUCH better than the old one(you can actually see Pike's Peak!) and the green and brown border makes it SO much easier to navigate the website than the old bright, white one! However, I don't like how you kept the old catalog and account pages. They annoy me SO much when the page says "session has timed out" every two minutes, and then you have to re-enter and re-load everything you just did....is there ANY way you can stop the session from timing out so quickly? That'd be great! Thanks,

Emily

Unfortunately we have to keep

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 11:07pm.

Unfortunately we have to keep the timeout that short because we use those pages on our inhouse computers where multiple patrons use the same computer and sometimes forget to sign out. Thanks for the kind words!

Colorful ... but artwork is

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/04/2010 - 6:59am.

Colorful ... but artwork is less desirable on a research site. More "white space" please.

No way!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 07/08/2010 - 2:15pm.

Whitespace makes it MUCH harder to see everything; the green and brown are much easier o the eyes...

new website comments

Submitted by Catherine Bailie (not verified) on Tue, 06/29/2010 - 8:17pm.

In line with the objective to "construct a website structure that will accommodate future library online growth" it would be great to see a link to the Cybershelf on the main page. I'm not sure if I saw all options, but I located it only through the "find a good book" link. Piggybacking off of that, but unrelated to the website itself, I wish the library had a broader selection of e-pub format books.

Picky-picky comment: "accommodate" is spelled incorrectly in your objectives list.