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Home / Sessions / Structuring the Divide across Library and Technology

Structuring the Divide across Library and Technology

IAC 2020

Time(s)

April 10, 2020

Description

Structuring the Divide across Library and Technology

In 2018, I was asked to assist the Mount Holyoke College Library with their IA problem. Their patrons were struggling to find what they sought, the content writers were challenged by where to put articles, and the website was bloated with recurring content, overgrown navigation, and confusing, inconsistent taxonomies. Librarians are at their core are an ancient precedent of today’s Information Architect. So, they understood the value of the work needed and thus began the search for a UX strategist who was skilled in digital information architecture.

The Mount Holyoke College Library is one of three dozen libraries to merge with technology services in an effort to recognize the importance of technology in discovery and research. The concept is not new; in fact, it is comparable to the digital transformation happening in large corporations like GE and CVS. The primary challenge was that merging library with technology meant users were visiting the website and physical location for very different reasons with vastly divergent needs.

In this presentation, I will share the path I followed to make sense of it all and deliver a content strategy that included a comprehensive clear-to-understand information architecture. I will discuss the ways that I drove consensus and fostered alignment across divergent business divisions using visual assets and data-driven insights as well as hosting focus groups and content writing workshops. Since my approach is firmly rooted in the user centered design process (UCD), this talk will explore where good UX informs IA and the resulting wins that come from structuring your architecture to reflect the needs of the user.

Key takeaways from the session:

– The value in working with user experience design and research techniques to inform and improve upon an information architecture and content strategy.
– Techniques for driving consensus and alignment across seemingly divergent business divisions.
– How content relationships and drive comprehension and increase find-ability (for a user and search engines).
– The importance of on-boarding, redundancy, imagery, and consistency when rolling out a complex information architecture solution.

About the speakers

Dawn Russell

Dawn Russell is an enterprise Information Architect at CVS Health. Her interdisciplinary style draws from UX, design thinking, and information science. She gravitates towards complex problems that emerge from the intersection of diverse cultures and digital technology.

Her love for information architecture was enriched at Mount Holyoke College where she collaborated daily with librarians to establish a taxonomy for their merged technology and library division. Prior to that, Dawn founded and directed Artisan Web and Print, a boutique design agency specializing in creative, lasting solutions for clients in healthcare, hospitality, and the arts.

In her personal time, she serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committees at CVS Health and Tech Collective. Her other pleasures include Rockabilly bass, long walks on the beach, and baking sourdough bread.

Sponsor IAC

We’re looking for organizations who share our commitment to building and sustaining programs that drive a more inclusive industry. Learn more on the Sponsor IAC23 page or contact us directly at info@theiaconference.com for more information.

Thanks to this year’s sponsors!

Logo for sponsor Optimal Workshop
Platinum sponsor
Optimal Workshop
Logo for sponsor Factor Firm
Gold sponsor
Factor Firm
Logo for sponsor Last Call Media
Silver sponsor
Last Call Media
Logo for sponsor Design for Context
Scholarship sponsor
Design for Context

Logo for sponsor A Book Apart
In-Kind sponsor
A Book Apart
Logo for sponsor Balsamiq
In-Kind sponsor
Balsamiq
Logo for sponsor MURAL
In-Kind sponsor
MURAL
Logo for sponsor OOUX Masterclass
In-Kind sponsor
OOUX Masterclass
Logo for sponsor Rosenfeld Media
In-Kind sponsor
Rosenfeld Media

Logo for sponsor UX Camp DC
Community sponsor
UX Camp DC
Logo for sponsor World IA Day
Community sponsor
World IA Day

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