The document discusses using user experience (UX) methods to improve a library search interface. It describes conducting interviews and prototype sessions with experienced users to understand pain points. User testing was performed to evaluate hypotheses about features like saving searches, filters, and email alerts. The results revealed opportunities to improve platform changes based on user feedback and develop training. UX provided a template for future activities to enhance the library search and make it more usable.

1. Using UX to improve Library
Search
HLG virtual CPD Event 24th November 2021
Derek Boyle
Senior Knowledge Manager
Knowledge Management & Discovery Unit
NES, Digital
derek.boyle@nhs.scot

2. NHS Education for Scotland
Overview
• Background
• Objectives
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
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3. NHS Education for Scotland
Implemented Primo in March 2017
Background

4. NHS Education for Scotland
Access to Library Search from The Knowledge
Network
Background contd.

5. NHS Education for Scotland
Library Search 2021
Background contd.

6. NHS Education for Scotland
• Ease of use
• Real users
• Direct feedback
• Fix or improve
applications or
services
• Users are happy
and come back.
What is UX?
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7. NHS Education for Scotland
Objectives
• Use the data you
already have
• Interview
experienced users
• Proto-persona
session
• Use all of the
above to inform
user testing

8. NHS Education for Scotland
Methods: use the data you already
have

9. NHS Education for Scotland
Examples of user experience and
usability studies focusing on Primo or
similar discovery systems
Methods: literature review

10. NHS Education for Scotland
Examples of library services using user
experience/usability studies to support
service improvement.
Methods: literature review

11. NHS Education for Scotland
Methods: interviews with experienced users
How often do
you use Library
Search?
What are you
using it for?
Once you have
searched for
something what do
you do next?
Do you enjoy
using the
interface?
If you could make one
improvement to the
interface what would
that be?

12. NHS Education for Scotland
Methods – proto-persona session

13. NHS Education for Scotland
Methods: Love
and
breakup letter

14. NHS Education for Scotland
What did
this tell
us?
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• “ a few references”
• Different levels of
“experience”
• Positive feedback
• Pain points
– “too many clicks”
– Expand My Results
– Too many results

15. NHS Education for Scotland
Methods: user experience testing
• Have a clear
goal
• Test out
hypotheses
• Test with 5
participants

16. NHS Education for Scotland
Goal
We want to test how useful and visible the
other features of Library Search are. In
particular, the use of filters, send to functions
(pin, email, RefWorks), saving searches &
alerts, help, menu items in the header and
signing-in.
Methods: user experience testing
contd

17. NHS Education for Scotland
Hypothesis
Users have not noticed how to pin items
to My Favourites
Question
If you wanted to save a selection of
articles to look at later, how would you do
this?
Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels
Methods: user experience testing

18. NHS Education for Scotland
Hypothesis
Users have not noticed permalinks and
email functions to share items.
Question
If you wanted to share some references
with a colleague, how would you do this?
Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels
Methods: user experience testing

19. NHS Education for Scotland
Hypothesis
Users have not noticed how to set up
email alerts on topic searches.
Question
If you wanted to keep-up to date on this
topic, how would you do this?
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Methods: user experience testing

20. NHS Education for Scotland
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21. NHS Education for Scotland
1. Accessing Library and Search and
signing-in
Results

22. NHS Education for Scotland
2. Searching for information, e.g. journals,
articles and topics.
Results contd

23. NHS Education for Scotland
3. Use of other features, including filters,
send to functions (pin, email, RefWorks),
saving searches & alerts, help
Results contd

24. NHS Education for Scotland
• Changes to the
platform
• Opportunities for
further UX
testing
• Opportunities to
develop training
activities
Discussion

25. NHS Education for Scotland
• Using UX
• Team & Teams
• Template for
future activities
Discussion
• Scope too broad
• More agile
• Timescales

26. NHS Education for Scotland
Photo by Ann H from Pexels

27. NHS Education for Scotland
• Nielsen Norman Group
https://www.nngroup.com/
• Laughey, William F, et al. “Love and Breakup
Letter Methodology: A New Research
Technique for Medical Education.” Medical
Education 55, no. 7 (2021): 818–24.
https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.14463
• Contact derek.boyle@nhs.scot for project
report.
Useful references

28. NHS Education for Scotland
• Project Team: Janet Crozier, Katie
Edwards, Alan Gillies, Donna Watson,
Annette Thain
• Experience Unit: Colin Sanders, Cat
Lawson
• Everyone who was involved in providing
user feedback on The Knowledge
Network Library Search
Acknowledgements

29. NHS Education for Scotland
Thank you
Questions?

30. © NHS Education for Scotland 2019. You can copy or reproduce the information in this resource for use within NHSScotland and
For non-commercial educational purposes. Use of this document for commercial purposes is permitted only with the written
Permission of NES.