Booth Library has begun to create a new and improved website to help facilitate the Eastern community.

Booth’s library web services committee has been running research over the course of the past two years in order to come up with the best design possible.

Allen Lanham, the dean of library services, said the website will hopefully make finding what the library has to offer simpler.

“We hope that patrons will find the new site user-friendly and easy to navigate, whether they are conducting research, renewing a book, or accessing an electronic database,” said Lanham.

Lanham said he believes Booth’s website is an important resource for those going to the library.

“It’s the starting point for all who are doing research; connecting them with library resources in the building and online,” he said. “But it also serves as an information source about library events and activities, other services offered by the library, library hours and much more.”

Todd Bruns, the chairman of Booth’s web services committee, said the committee spent a lot of time talking to students, staff and faculty to discover what aspects of the old website they like and which aspects they did not like.

“We also showed them components of other library websites to see what they liked about them,” Bruns said. “We used all of that information to tailor the design of the new site.”

Booth encourages students, faculty and staff to complete a site feedback survey so that the committee can make adjustments before the final site is launched in January.

“We’re excited to hear from people who try out the new site, and we’ll use that input to make any final tweaks before switching to the new website design in the spring semester,” Bruns said.

Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.