Usability & the Connecticut State Library Web Site Stephanie Willen Brown Electronic Resources Librarian University of Connecticut [email_address] 860.486.4855

Act Like a User: Find an Obituary Uncle Joe died in the 1950’s. I want to see his obituary! What’s the first thing you see? How would you go about getting Uncle Joe’s obituary? Site 1 Site 2 Site 3

Uncle Joe died in the 1950’s. I want to see his obituary!

What’s the first thing you see?

How would you go about getting Uncle Joe’s obituary?

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/

http://www.lib.az.us/

http://www.library.ca.gov/

Today Define UX, usability Why do they matter? Discuss elements of UX as they affect web sites UConn’s usability test Assessment Test Results Break Review state library web sites Complete common scenarios Assess based on new knowledge

Define UX, usability

Why do they matter?

Discuss elements of UX as they affect web sites

UConn’s usability test

Assessment

Test

Results

Break

Review state library web sites

Complete common scenarios

Assess based on new knowledge

Why Should We Care About UX? “ Your web site is the embodiment of your library ... For customers to feel they have a good relationship with your library, they must first feel they have a good relationship with the web site — and that begins with the user experience.” Paraphrased from Garrett, J.J. “ Customer Loyalty and the Elements of User Experience”

“ Your web site is the embodiment of your library ... For customers to feel they have a good relationship with your library, they must first feel they have a good relationship with the web site — and that begins with the user experience.”

Paraphrased from Garrett, J.J.

“ Customer Loyalty and the Elements of User Experience”

The Elements of User Experience Peter Morville, Ambient Findability

Peter Morville,

Ambient Findability

What is Usability? Usability … assesses how easy user interfaces are to use . The word “usability” also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process. Jakob Nielsen, Usability 101

Usability … assesses how easy user interfaces are to use . The word “usability” also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process.

Components of Good Design Learnability Efficiency Memorability Error recovery Satisfaction

Learnability

Efficiency

Memorability

Error recovery

Satisfaction

How to Achieve Good Design Think like a user Consistent design Tweak text

Think like a user

Consistent design

Tweak text

Thinking Like a User “… let’s acknowledge the vital importance of empathy for the user . Only by understanding and caring about the perspective of the individual can we design useful, usable solutions.” Peter Morville, Ambient Findability

“… let’s acknowledge the vital importance of empathy for the user . Only by understanding and caring about the perspective of the individual can we design useful, usable solutions.”

Consistency Color, graphics Orientation & navigation Language

Color, graphics

Orientation & navigation

Language

Above the Fold

Pretty! Functional?

Reading Online: Proust For a long time I used to go to bed early. Sometimes, when I had put out my candle, my eyes would close so quickly that I had not even time to say "I'm going to sleep." And half an hour later the thought that it was time to go to sleep would awaken me; I would try to put away the book which, I imagined, was still in my hands, and to blow out the light; I had been thinking all the time, while I was asleep, of what I had just been reading, but my thoughts had run into a channel of their own, until I myself seemed actually to have become the subject of my book: a church, a quartet, the rivalry between Francois I and Charles V. This impression would persist for some moments after I was awake; it did not disturb my mind, but it lay like scales upon my eyes and prevented them from registering the fact that the candle was no longer burning. Then it would begin to seem unintelligible, as the thoughts of a former existence must be to a reincarnate spirit; the subject of my book would separate itself from me, leaving me free to choose whether I would form part of it or no; and at the same time my sight would return and I would be astonished to find myself in a state of darkness, pleasant and restful enough for the eyes, and even more, perhaps, for my mind, to which it appeared incomprehensible, without a cause, a matter dark indeed. Swann’s Way / Marcel Proust

For a long time I used to go to bed early. Sometimes, when I had put out my candle, my eyes would close so quickly that I had not even time to say "I'm going to sleep." And half an hour later the thought that it was time to go to sleep would awaken me; I would try to put away the book which, I imagined, was still in my hands, and to blow out the light; I had been thinking all the time, while I was asleep, of what I had just been reading, but my thoughts had run into a channel of their own, until I myself seemed actually to have become the subject of my book: a church, a quartet, the rivalry between Francois I and Charles V. This impression would persist for some moments after I was awake; it did not disturb my mind, but it lay like scales upon my eyes and prevented them from registering the fact that the candle was no longer burning. Then it would begin to seem unintelligible, as the thoughts of a former existence must be to a reincarnate spirit; the subject of my book would separate itself from me, leaving me free to choose whether I would form part of it or no; and at the same time my sight would return and I would be astonished to find myself in a state of darkness, pleasant and restful enough for the eyes, and even more, perhaps, for my mind, to which it appeared incomprehensible, without a cause, a matter dark indeed.

Text-heavy Home Page

Which is Easiest to Understand? Type Books | Journals | Reports | Videos | Web Sites Sciences Biology | Chemistry | Microbiology | Physics | Zoology Biology Books Chemistry Journals Microbiology Physics Reports Videos Web Sites Zoology Type Sciences Books • Biology Journals • Chemistry Reports • Microbiology Videos • Physics Web Sites • Zoology

Type Sciences

Books • Biology

Journals • Chemistry

Reports • Microbiology

Videos • Physics

Web Sites • Zoology

Arguably … Why? Content arranged logically, with clear headings & bullets Alphabetical within groups Content goes down, as it does in traditional print Words are “chunked” into pieces for easy scanning Type Sciences Books • Biology Journals • Chemistry Reports • Microbiology Videos • Physics Web Sites • Zoology

Why?

Content arranged logically, with clear headings & bullets

Alphabetical within groups

Content goes down, as it does in traditional print

Words are “chunked” into pieces for easy scanning

Type Sciences

Books • Biology

Journals • Chemistry

Reports • Microbiology

Videos • Physics

Web Sites • Zoology

Satisfaction?? http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/mssc/posters.htm

Jargon to Library Users “ E RIC, I think it ’s some kind of journal … some kind of citation. ” Reference Shelf “[It’s] very general. You don’t know what to expect as it could be anything.”

“ E RIC, I think it ’s some kind of journal … some kind of citation. ”

Reference Shelf “[It’s] very general. You don’t know what to expect as it could be anything.”

Jargon for Travelers You need the cheapest round-trip ticket from Boston to London. You go to These are your options – which is right? Flights & Prices Fares 3 Best Itineraries

You need the cheapest round-trip ticket from Boston to London.

You go to

These are your options – which is right?

Flights & Prices

Fares

3 Best Itineraries

How Identify Site Problems? Objectively evaluate site Focus group of Current / typical users Non-users! Surveys of Current / typical users Non-users! Usability studies

Objectively evaluate site

Focus group of

Current / typical users

Non-users!

Surveys of

Current / typical users

Non-users!

Usability studies

Usability Testing Define users Create tasks to mimic what users would realistically do on site Do usability testing early & often 3-5 users highlights 85% of errors Better to test several small groups than 10-15 at once Note errors, redesign and retest

Define users

Create tasks to mimic what users would realistically do on site

Do usability testing early & often

3-5 users highlights 85% of errors

Better to test several small groups than 10-15 at once

Note errors, redesign and retest

Suggested Usability Setup Facilitator Participant @ computer Note-taker 2 Note-taker 1

Read to the “Tester”

UConn’s Database Locator

UConn’s Redesign Goals Database usage statistics outweighs f2f library-user contact in 2006: f2f contact with patrons: 55,629 Database sessions: 470,327 UConn Libraries Plan 2010 “Scholar’s Portal: “ Provide immediate, unmediated , and comprehensive access to digitized research and scholarly collections worldwide.” Peter Morville: Make Things Findable

Database usage statistics outweighs f2f library-user contact in 2006:

f2f contact with patrons: 55,629

Database sessions: 470,327

UConn Libraries Plan 2010 “Scholar’s Portal:

“ Provide immediate, unmediated , and comprehensive access to digitized research and scholarly collections worldwide.”

Peter Morville: Make Things Findable

Usage Log Analysis March - May 2006, UConn patrons … Used the subject browse 18,000 times. Performed a keyword search 15,800 times; and Clicked on Databases by Title 6,600 times;

March - May 2006, UConn patrons …

Used the subject browse 18,000 times.

Performed a keyword search 15,800 times; and

Clicked on Databases by Title 6,600 times;

Query Log Analysis Databases america history and life lexus nexus infotrack Subjects education pharmacy medicine anthropologyu Topics hamlet insane adopted children of same sex couples “ why doesn’t the us have a eurpean-style welfate state?”

Databases

america history and life

lexus nexus

infotrack

Subjects

education

pharmacy medicine

anthropologyu

Topics

hamlet insane

adopted children of same sex couples

“ why doesn’t the us have a eurpean-style welfate state?”

Usability Testing: 3 Rounds Who? 3 undergraduates, 1 grad, 1 faculty in each Storrs & regional campuses What? First tested old system Major redesign Tested redesign Tweaked design Tested again

Who?

3 undergraduates, 1 grad, 1 faculty in each

Storrs & regional campuses

What?

First tested old system

Major redesign

Tested redesign

Tweaked design

Tested again

Usability Tasks Find a business database Your professor said “use a database named ERIC” Find articles about diabetes for your nursing class Find a newspaper article from the day you were born … plus 5 more …

Find a business database

Your professor said “use a database named ERIC”

Find articles about diabetes for your nursing class

Find a newspaper article from the day you were born

… plus 5 more …

Subject browse: ~ 18,000 ; Keyword search 15,800 ; and Databases by Title: 6,600

Subject browse: ~ 18,000 ;

Keyword search 15,800 ; and

Databases by Title: 6,600

Browse by Topic  Business

Find a Database Named ERIC

Diabetes Article, I diabetes

Diabetes Article, II

Focus Groups vs. Usability Testing In response to question “Rate this site, 1-5  s” Testers rated     to      In response to question “would you recommend this to a friend?” Testers said yes

In response to question “Rate this site, 1-5  s”

Testers rated     to     

In response to question “would you recommend this to a friend?”

Testers said yes

What We Did Designed for “lowest common denominator” Inserted “affordances” for advanced users which are… Harmless to users unfamiliar with site Removed search box Created topical arrangement that students would expect (UConn major) Limited to 5 databases per page (Best Bets) Sorted by relevance: 1 st database would be good enough in most cases Offered more databases if they clicked on “more” Best bets marked on the longer database page Shortened written descriptions

Designed for “lowest common denominator”

Inserted “affordances” for advanced users which are…

Harmless to users unfamiliar with site

Removed search box

Created topical arrangement that students would expect (UConn major)

Limited to 5 databases per page (Best Bets)

Sorted by relevance: 1 st database would be good enough in most cases

Offered more databases if they clicked on “more”

Best bets marked on the longer database page

Shortened written descriptions

http://rdl.lib.uconn.edu/bySubject.php

Best Bets in Library Science

UConn’s Database Descriptions, I ABI/Inform Global ABI/Inform Global Full-text articles from 1800 journals covering business, finance, management and related functional areas. ABI/INFORM Global indexes a total of 2700 major publications. Subject coverage includes: business and management, including all functional areas.

ABI/Inform Global ABI/Inform Global Full-text articles from 1800 journals covering business, finance, management and related functional areas. ABI/INFORM Global indexes a total of 2700 major publications. Subject coverage includes: business and management, including all functional areas.

Database Description, Essential Info ABI/Inform Global ABI/Inform Global Full-text articles from 1800 journals covering business, finance, management and related functional areas. ABI/INFORM Global indexes a total of 2700 major publications. Subject coverage includes: Business and management, including all functional areas.

ABI/Inform Global

ABI/Inform Global

Full-text articles

from 1800 journals

covering business, finance, management

and related functional areas.

ABI/INFORM Global

indexes

a total of 2700 major publications.

Subject coverage includes:

Business and management, including all functional areas.

UConn’s Database Description, II ABI/INFORM Global Articles in business, finance, management, accounting, advertising, banking, insurance, marketing, public administration, real estate, and telecommunications. 1991-current (fulltext); 1971-current (index & abstracts).

ABI/INFORM Global

Articles in business, finance, management, accounting, advertising, banking, insurance, marketing, public administration, real estate, and telecommunications. 1991-current (fulltext); 1971-current (index & abstracts).

Final Round of Testing

Tech Notes RDL is public view of data elements from “home-grown” electronic resource management system (ERM) ERM written in PHP MySQL Some javascript  Ajax

RDL is public view of data elements from “home-grown” electronic resource management system (ERM)

ERM written in

PHP

MySQL

Some javascript  Ajax

UConn Redesign Team Stephanie Willen Brown , electronic resource librarian & liaison to Communication Sciences Susanna Cowan , undergraduate education & outreach librarian Kate Fuller , reference collection maintenance coordinator and / administrative assistant Jill Livingston , reference librarian/liaison to the school of allied health Tom Wood , applications developer Co-authors: “Making Unmediated Access to E-Resources a Reality: Creating a Usable ERM Interface,” Reference and User Services Quarterly, Summer 2009

Stephanie Willen Brown , electronic resource librarian & liaison to Communication Sciences

Susanna Cowan , undergraduate education & outreach librarian

Kate Fuller , reference collection maintenance coordinator and / administrative assistant

Jill Livingston , reference librarian/liaison to the school of allied health

Tom Wood , applications developer

Co-authors: “Making Unmediated Access to E-Resources a Reality: Creating a Usable ERM Interface,” Reference and User Services Quarterly, Summer 2009

Break

@ CSLib.org

Visits to Conn. State Library, 2008 ytd

Most Popular Queries  CSLib.org Conn* 56,000 Librar* 52,300 Statute* 13,000 Histor* 9,800 Newspaper* 7,800 Law* or legisl* 7,700 Genealog* 3,200 Obit* 2,152 Blind 2,008 Archiv* 1,700 Felon* 1,600

Conn* 56,000

Librar* 52,300

Statute* 13,000

Histor* 9,800

Newspaper* 7,800

Law* or legisl* 7,700

Genealog* 3,200

Obit* 2,152

Blind 2,008

Archiv* 1,700

Felon* 1,600

Most Visited Pages index.htm 235,244 (main page) psaindex.htm 70,832 (Public & Special Acts & General Statutes of Connecticut) handg.htm 54,522 (History and Genealogy) publicrecords 49,175 (Public Records Administrator) nickname.htm 48,568 (A Listing Of Some 18th and 19th Century American Nicknames) law.htm 46,436 (Connecticut Law and Legislation) faq.htm 42,566 (CSL Research Resources) history.htm 33,845 (Connecticut History) jobs.htm 26,919 (State Library Job Openings) finespenalt.htm 26,043 (State Of Connecticut Table On Fines And Penalties)

index.htm 235,244 (main page)

psaindex.htm 70,832 (Public & Special Acts & General Statutes of Connecticut)

handg.htm 54,522 (History and Genealogy)

publicrecords 49,175 (Public Records Administrator)

nickname.htm 48,568 (A Listing Of Some 18th and 19th Century American Nicknames)

law.htm 46,436 (Connecticut Law and Legislation)

faq.htm 42,566 (CSL Research Resources)

history.htm 33,845 (Connecticut History)

jobs.htm 26,919 (State Library Job Openings)

finespenalt.htm 26,043 (State Of Connecticut Table On Fines And Penalties)

3 Scenarios; Volunteers Requested Scenarios; 2-minute limit Find library services for the blind in Michigan Find Pennsylvania statutes Find records retention & disposal guidelines in Maine Volunteers a ttempt to perform task Audience Note the first thing you see Note problems encountered by volunteer

Scenarios; 2-minute limit

Find library services for the blind in Michigan

Find Pennsylvania statutes

Find records retention & disposal guidelines in Maine

Volunteers a ttempt to perform task

Audience

Note the first thing you see

Note problems encountered by volunteer

Library Services for the Blind

Find Pennsylvania Statutes

Record Retention & Disposal

Discuss Testing Process Discuss Scenario completion Process of usability testing? Value of process to … Site designers Content providers Observers

Discuss

Scenario completion

Process of usability testing?

Value of process to …

Site designers

Content providers

Observers

Group Assessment of More Sites Let’s look at more state library sites. Based on what we’ve discussed today What do you like & why What don’t you like & why Assessment criteria? Patron hat Librarian hat

Let’s look at more state library sites. Based on what we’ve discussed today

What do you like & why

What don’t you like & why

Assessment criteria?

http://www.library.state.ak.us/

http://libraries.vermont.gov/

http://www.aclin.org/

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/home.html

http://winslo.state.oh.us/

Pretty But Not Functional http://www.lva.lib.va.us/

http://www.kdla.ky.gov/

For More Information Recommended articles about usability testing http://gslis.simmons.edu/mw/browns/Usability Links to state library sites discussed here http://gslis.simmons.edu/mw/browns/State_libraries Link to presentation on SlideShare http://tinyurl.com/cslib-usability-Dec08 Keep in touch! Stephanie Willen Brown [email_address] IM: CogSciLibrarian

Recommended articles about usability testing

http://gslis.simmons.edu/mw/browns/Usability

Links to state library sites discussed here

http://gslis.simmons.edu/mw/browns/State_libraries

Link to presentation on SlideShare

http://tinyurl.com/cslib-usability-Dec08

Keep in touch!

Stephanie Willen Brown

[email_address]

IM: CogSciLibrarian