What were the major technology trends in 2015? What can we predict about what’s coming next? What impact does this all have on libraries? Come see our panel of library technology luminaries discuss their insights into what was big, what flopped, and what libraries should be positioning ourselves to take advantage of next.
Our panel discussion will consist of each speaker giving a brief presentation, followed by discussion and ample time for questions and answers with the audience. Our speakers will come from a variety of library backgrounds, providing a balanced perspective on how the technology shifts of 2015 have impacted libraries across North Carolina.
2. Peter Morville’s UX Honeycombe, http://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-experience.html
3. Optimal Workshop
• www.optimalworkshop.com
• Web-based usability testing software
• Pricing
• Treejack, OptimalSort, or Chalkmark
• $109 per month, $990 per year, $149 per survey
• The Suite $1,990 per year
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8. Optimizely
• www.optimizely.com
• Easy A/B testing for website design improvement
• Pricing
• Starter: free to test out
• Pay as You Go: $49 per 1,000 monthly unique visitors
• Enterprise: custom pricing and set up based on your needs
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10. balsamiq
• balsamiq.com
• Wireframe and mockup tool
• Pricing
• Sinlge User License: $89, one time purchase, desktop only
• Volume Licenses available
• Web-based app and plugin available
UX is not new, but it’s a growing trend in libraries; in particular web-based tools to improve user interfaces and the overall user experience
User experience in libraries
Recent growing interest in user experience and user interface design in libraries over past 2-3 years with new ux departments popping up
Amount of information and resources available to users combined with user expectations and experience with commercial websites and search engines are a driving force
To create a valuable user experience (one that contributes to mission of your library), must consider these facets:
Useful: fulfill a need; what will users want to do with your site?
Usable: ease of use; can your users learn how to use the site?
Desirable: evoke emotion through your design; do users relate to your identity/brand?
Findable: can users find the information or objects they need within your site?
Accessible: content should be accessible to people with disabilities
Credible: must cultivate trust/belief in your site for users
Sources: http://semanticstudios.com/user_experience_design/; http://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-experience.html
From the first moment the user enters your site to when they leave, you want to give them a feeling of delight and ease
Each of these facets contribute to a great overall user experience
Put the user first by considering them during the process of developing or updating your library website
3 tools that will make usability quick and easy anyone can do it
Suite of 4 tools that can be delivered within surveys to users remotely
Quick and easy
Used to improve information architecture of your website
The Suite includes 4 individual modules: Treejack, OptimalSort, Chalkmark and Reframer
50% discount for non-profit/education
The Free Plan = unlimited number of studies, using all 3 tools, limited to 10 people per survey, 3 tasks for Treejack and Chalkmark, 30 cards for OptimalSort
Treejack
Uses a simplified version of your site's navigational structure without the influence of visual design, which helps evaluate the findability of information/topics on your website
OptimalSort
Online card sorting tool that lets you quickly find out how users think the content on your site should be organized
Chalkmark
First click testing of screenshots based on tasks average users would perform on your site
Reframer
Allows testers to take notes when observing users during testing, keeping information organized
Analyzes qualitative data for patterns and themes based on user feedback
Allows you to make data-driven decisions about changes/updates to your website based on user’s interaction
Changes occur to your site during normal user activities, so the changes are not as prominent to users
Easy to use interface for testers allows for quick html/css based changes to a webpage
Users will see different versions allowing for data to be gathered on how these changes effect their interaction with the site
Caveat: can have inconclusive results
Quickly create wireframes/mockups of site or online tool ideas
Less time investment in creating mockups means more time to revise
Free trial available
Sketch style focuses on content and interaction rather than minute details
Each of these tools have their strengths and weaknesses
All make it easier to do usability testing on your library website without a lot of fuss
Depending on your goals and what you’re looking to improve on your site, you can determine which tool works best for your library