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Like many libraries, the University of Michigan Library for a long time employed no one for the purpose of website usability. To address the gap, a Usability Group was formed. The structure and methodo...

Like many libraries, the University of Michigan Library for a long time employed no one for the purpose of website usability. To address the gap, a Usability Group was formed. The structure and methodologies of the group have evolved over the last four years, producing an efficient organization with innovative and highly effective techniques. Twenty-eight staff members have contributed to this group. Six different systems have been evaluated, resulting in over 30 reports and hundreds of recommendations.

Although resources are evaluated using a wide range of traditional techniques (formal testing, focus groups, surveys, heuristic evaluations, prototype testing, etc.), the group strongly believes that usability doesn't have to be complicated and time-consuming, favoring more straightforward, "budget" techniques as means to the most interesting and useful results. The group also often employs an iterative approach to testing by repeating and refining tests to evaluate effectiveness of changes and to fine-tune techniques.

This presentation will describe the Usability Group's techniques and findings from our most recent projects to evaluate the library's recently launched website. Specifically, we will describe methodologies, present testing materials and results from "guerilla" testing, group card sorting, and participatory design sessions with undergraduates, graduates and faculty, and staff. Participants will be able to apply these methods in their own libraries.