Effect has embarked on an exciting new partnership with the Queenstown Lakes District Council Libraries department through an open tender process.
With our extensive experience working with local councils across Aotearoa and our expertise in the Umbraco CMS, we were the perfect choice to develop this new website. Our approach ensures the retention of existing functionality while introducing significant design and functionality enhancements.
It was a pleasure to work with the Effect team. They were transparent and communicative throughout the project and their understanding of the nature of local government and libraries was a real asset. We worked through all our requirements early on and were able to realistically scope everything out against budget and timeframes.
Natacha Murphy, Digital Services Librarian
Queenstown Lakes District Libraries needed a new website to replace their existing site, which was shared with Central Otago District Libraries and built on an outdated version of the Umbraco CMS.
With the end of life for Umbraco CMS version 7 approaching, the QLDC Libraries sought a modern, secure and user-friendly website to showcase their events, collections, digital resources and services, alongside maintaining and improving the current functionalities.
Interactive and modern design
We worked closely with the QLDC design team to develop a new Libraries branding kit and style guide that will be carried forward throughout their visual and print channels. We created an engaging, modern design that aligned with the QLDC Libraries' vision. The new interface was simple, clean, engaging and easy to navigate, ensuring visitors could easily find and understand all that the libraries offer from the homepage.
Retention of existing functionality
The existing functionalities of the old website were carefully retained to ensure continuity for regular users. We ensured that the transition to the new site was seamless, with familiar features enhanced for better performance and usability.
Enhanced events section
One of the key enhancements was in the events section. The events section was improved, making it easier to see start and end times of events, filter by dates, browse past events and see if events are cancelled. This provides a more engaging experience for the community.
Mobile first
Another key improvement was adopting a mobile-first approach for the new Libraries website. Recognising the increasing number of users accessing the site via mobile devices, we prioritised a responsive design that ensures seamless functionality and an optimal user experience on all devices. This approach not only enhances accessibility for on-the-go users but also aligns with modern web development standards, ensuring that the Libraries vast resources, events and services are easily accessible to all community members, regardless of the device they use.
We had a few requirements that were relatively complex and the team were great at sourcing various options to fit into our budget, and we were able to make informed decisions about the best way to progress. The end-product is a flexible and customisable website, with a clean and modern design that has been very well received by our team and community.
Natacha Murphy, Digital Services Librarian
The new Queenstown Lakes Libraries website went live successfully and within budget. The website now features a modern, interactive design that is both simple and accessible.
The enhanced events section have significantly improved user engagement and functionality.
Effect's redesign of the Queenstown Lakes Libraries website demonstrates our capability to deliver modern, user-friendly and secure web solutions that meet client needs and enhance user engagement. This project showcases our expertise in interactive design, seamless integration and effective project management.