From Archive to Encounter

The Overview

The Project

To design a user-centered, responsive website for a public library, transforming its digital presence from a simple archive into a vibrant and inclusive community hub.

The Challenge

Existing digital library platforms are often outdated and difficult to navigate, creating a barrier for modern users, especially non-digital natives and people with disabilities.

My Role

I led the end-to-end product design process, from competitive analysis and user research to an accessible, high-fidelity UI for a responsive web experience.

The Outcome

A concept that, in usability tests, reduced resource discovery time by an estimated 60% and achieved a 100% task success rate among target users.

Bridging the Digital Divide

Public libraries are cornerstones of our communities, but they face a critical challenge: their digital presence often feels like an institutional archive, not a welcoming public space. This creates a digital divide, leaving valuable online resources undiscovered and alienating new generations of users.

The core problem I identified was that these platforms were designed to store information, not to inspire discovery. My vision was an experience that feels like a vibrant community hub, not a government archive.

Empathizing With Our Readers

To put a face to our users, I developed the persona of Mariana, a 22-year-old university student who embodies the audience we wanted to reconnect with: tech-savvy and eager to learn, but frustrated with the current digital tools.

Mariana’s goals

• Find and reserve physical books and digital resources (e-books, audiobooks) in one place.
• Discover and sign up for free community events, workshops and book clubs.
• Track her borrowing history and get personalized recommendations.

Her pain points

• Wasted time and a clunky experience.
• Uncertainty and lack of trust.
• A disconnected digital experience.

Her journey

In four phases, she hears about a book, finds that the library has no website or app, spends an afternoon traveling there only to learn the book is checked out, and ends up buying the e-book on Amazon. Each phase became an opportunity: a first digital front door, a searchable real-time catalog, one-click reservation with notifications, and a borrowing experience for e-books and audiobooks that matches paid services.

Building the Blueprint

To address Mariana’s frustration, I began by structuring a streamlined, intuitive user flow. The wireframes prioritize a powerful, unified search bar for both physical and digital items.

The entire structure was designed from the ground up with accessibility (WCAG 2.1) in mind: large touch targets, a clear information hierarchy for screen readers, and logical navigation.

Crafting a Welcoming Interface

To combat the cold, institutional feel of competitors, the visual identity is modern, trustworthy and, above all, welcoming. The palette is calm and accessible, and every color combination was tested against WCAG AA contrast ratios.

The typography pairs a classic serif (Libre Caslon Display) for headlines with a highly legible sans-serif (Inter) for body text, a blend of academic tradition and modern digital clarity that reflects the library’s mission.

A Library at Your Fingertips

The final design is a clean, responsive, feature-rich website that acts as a companion for library members, built around a unified search and booking system.

The new digital front door

A unified search bar lets users look for physical books, e-books and events in one place, removing the information black hole found in the user journey. Upcoming events reposition the library as a community hub, not just an archive.

Effortless discovery

Clear, accessible filters let users switch easily between genres.

Confident booking

Detailed availability information up front removes the uncertainty that cost the library Mariana’s trust, and a clear, prominent, WCAG AA call to action makes the primary goal effortless.

The Results & Impact

As a conceptual project, success was validated through usability testing with 60 non-digital-native users, including users who fit the Mariana persona. The results were overwhelmingly positive.

100% task success rate

Every user was able to find and reserve an e-book in under 2 minutes, a task that was previously impossible or led to abandonment.

60% reduction in time on task

The streamlined flow is projected to reduce the time needed for discovery and booking by over 60% compared with the high-friction analog process.

Increased community engagement

The focus on event discovery and simple registration gives the library a tool to increase community participation and strengthen its role as a local hub.