Purpose -Using staff focus groups in the redevelopment of a library website deploys their knowledge of user navigation issues and search strategies and addresses the unique needs of library staff. This article describes the process of planning, recruiting, and conducting staff focus groups and provides a discussion of lessons learned. Methodology/approach -A committee of professionals and non-professionals from the University of Calgary Library conducted a series of five focus groups with

more »

... y staff. The goals were to determine their content and service priorities for the redesigned library website, and also to ensure that staff were included in the redesign process. Findings -This article makes recommendations for library staff focus group interviewing, including planning, formulating questions, recruitment, conducting sessions, and analysis and reporting. Practical implications -Focus group interviews can be effectively conducted inhouse, with careful planning and adherence to established guidelines. Focus groups are a very useful method for gathering staff input for website redesign or any other library planning project. Originality/value -This article will be useful to librarians interested in assessing staff needs and priorities through focus group interviews. The article fills a void 1 in the library literature regarding the use of library staff as both focus group leaders and participants.