Information Architecture Audit: The Claremont Colleges Library
In this UX analysis, I conducted a critical evaluation of the information architecture of the Claremont Colleges Library website. As the central digital resource hub for students and faculty across all seven Claremont Colleges, the site plays a vital role in academic life — making the clarity and usability of its IA essential.
The goal of this assignment was to assess how effectively the site’s structure supports user needs — particularly regarding navigation, labeling, consistency, and task completion. My evaluation focused on identifying both strengths and potential friction points in the user journey, with proposed revisions grounded in IA best practices.
What Works Well
One of the site’s strongest design choices is placing the search bar prominently at the top of the homepage. For a library site, this is a high-priority feature — users often arrive with specific research materials or topic queries in mind. The search section is clearly defined and includes tabs for different resource types, with "Library Search" selected by default, reflecting user intent.
Another user-centric element is the clearly labeled hours banner for the library and its sub-sections. This allows quick access to frequently needed information — a smart addition for both students and faculty.
Identified IA Issues & Recommendations
Issue 1: Inconsistent Labeling & Broken Expectations
The homepage uses the term “Events” in two places — once in the main navigation, and again as part of a “News & Events” block further down. However, these links lead to different destinations, creating confusion. Specifically, the "News & Events" button leads to a page titled simply “News,” breaking the user’s expectation of also finding events content there.
Recommendation:
To maintain consistency and avoid confusion, the button should either be renamed to just “News” to match the landing page, or the destination page should be renamed and include both news and events. Clear and predictable navigation helps users stay oriented.
Issue 2: Hidden or Isolated Pages in Navigation Flow
Important pages like the Library Calendar, Events, and News are not accessible via the global navigation menus. Users must either scroll down the homepage, rely on breadcrumb trails, or click through in-context links to reach them — making them effectively hidden within the IA.
Recommendation:
Add a new section under the “About Us” dropdown in the global navigation labeled something like “News & Events” or “Library Updates.” This would create a central, easy-to-find hub for news, events, and the library calendar — improving discoverability and reducing navigation dead ends.
What I Learned
This project enhanced my ability to:
Critically assess a real-world site through the lens of user-centered IA
Spot misalignments between labels, links, and content
Understand how seemingly small inconsistencies can lead to user frustration or task failure
Provide clear, actionable recommendations that maintain organizational logic while improving usability