Pitts WebsitePitts Theology Library maintains a rich collection of 16th and 17th century manuscripts, but that doesn’t mean that its web presence needs to look historic. Just in time for a new school year, the Pitts website (www.pitts.emory.edu) has received a makeover—its first in five years. 

The library’s new look aligns it with other Emory websites while putting Pitts patrons’ needs front and center. Prior to the redesign, Pitts sought input from Candler faculty, staff and students, and even with the transition complete, librarians are still eager to hear your thoughts.

“We’re seeking feedback on a continual basis,” says Tracy Powell Iwaskow, head of public services and periodicals librarian. “We will use web analytics in addition to patron feedback to see where people are going and what they’re seeking, and then we’ll change the site as necessary to make sought-after information more findable.”

One way Pitts is aiming to improve the user experience is through the general navigation tabs at the top of the page. These tabs are now oriented by a task a patron might be seeking to complete—visiting the library, borrowing materials, or researching, for example—whereas before the navigation was separated by the library’s departmental organization. Within the “Borrow” tab, navigation is further broken down by a patron’s affiliation with the library (current student, faculty and staff, Candler alumni, and visitors).

The ability to search the website has also been improved. “I’m pleased that by implementing two quick search boxes that appear throughout the site, we’ve made searching for library resources easy to do from any page, while also creating more space to feature news, images, and special events,” says Iwaskow. The search boxes are in the top right corner and in a quick links box on the left side of the page.

If you’d like to provide feedback on the library’s new look, email a reference librarian at theologyref@listserv.cc.emory.edu.