This document provides examples of questions that could be used to test the usability of a library website. The 6 sample questions test different areas of the site like the catalog, online reference services, databases, bookmobile schedule, jobs postings, and contact information. Successful testers would be able to find the requested information by clicking relevant links or searching in the appropriate sections. The document recommends conducting tests with 8-12 questions on 5 different people, observing what they click on and say, and then fixing any issues found before retesting. The goal is to evaluate the website usability, not the test takers' abilities.

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Usability Test Examples
Question 1:
You want to check out the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. How would
you do that?
Question tests the catalog. Successful answers include:
 Clicking the Catalog link at top of page
 Typing title in catalog search box on main page
 Clicking advanced search
 Changing top search box to Catalog and typing in title
Question 2:
You're at work, and have a question you need answered. You have Internet access,
but can't use your phone. Where do you go to ask a question online?
Question tests the Ask a Librarian links and the Meebo widget. Successful answers
include:
 Typing the question into the Meebo widget
 Clicking the Ask A Librarian link at the top of the page
 Clicking the Other Ways to Ask link underneath the Meebo widget
Question 3:
Yesterday, a friend mentioned an interesting magazine article that you’d like to read.
You know that the library has access to online versions of magazines – how would you
find a list of these magazine databases?
Question tests the library database links. Successful answers include:
 Clicking the journals link
 Clicking the Newspapers & Magazines link
 Clicking the Research link at the top of the page

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Question 4:
Does the Bookmobile stop at the Brookwood Shopping Center today?
Question tests the Bookmobile info. Successful answers include:
 Scanning the Bookmobile section on the main page
 Clicking the Bookmobile Today link
 Clicking the More link underneath the Bookmobile Today section
Question 5:
You have a friend who wants to work for the library – can you find a listing of current
openings for her?
Question tests the Jobs link. Successful answers include:
 Clicking the Jobs link under the About Us section in the footer
 Clicking About Us then clicking the Jobs link
Question 6:
You’d like to call the library – can you find the phone number?
Question tests the Contact Us link. Successful answers include:
 Clicking Contact Us at the top of the page and finding the phone number
 Finding the phone number in the footer
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Remember These Things:
 Ask 8-12 questions
 No more than 2-3 minutes on each question
 Ask about 5 people. Fix the problems they found, then repeat.
 There can be more than one “correct answer” – patrons are creative!
 Ask a question, then write down everything – what the person clicks on, what
they hover over, if they click then go back, what they’re saying, etc.
 Tell the test taker that you aren’t evaluating them – you are evaluating the
website. They can’t get a “wrong” answer.