Office Location Map of Individuals in the Library and Other College Campus Buildings: A Proof-of-Concept Wayfinding System

Abstract

A Web site is often the first stop for a person trying to determine how to get to a person based in a library or a college campus building. The Web site, and the in-built online directory, may provide the building name and office number for a library staff or a faculty member, but these can be out-of-date and do not provide complete information for the person to find the office location. This article demonstrates an online wayfinding system that could show patrons, faculty, staff, and students not only the location of a library or another campus building, but also an individual office location on a building floor plan. A proof-of-concept was developed using HTML and CSS. The simplicity of the concept and implementation ensures that most libraries and college campuses can implement this wayfinding system using basic Web design skills, while greatly helping first-time visitors to specific offices. The system addresses the issue of frequent office moves and staff changes, and provides a richer cognitive map as compared to online directories and campus maps, which feature limited data and interactivity. This article concludes with a discussion of the benefits of interactive Web-based wayfinding tools including being more welcoming and scalable in large buildings and organizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Web directory
• wayfinding
• environmental graphic design
• information system
• indoor map
• proof-of-concept
• academic library
• college campus