Paul Hagon and I co-presented at VALA2010

1. Making our catalogue as easy as 1, 2, 3 VALA2010, 8 February 2010 Bobby Graham, Director Web Publishing (Acting) Paul Hagon, Senior Web Designer National Library of Australia

2. 2008 Library catalogue

3. Replace it An alternative open public access catalogue interface which: enhanced access to the Library’s collections improved usability for user needs Enabled staff to customise the look of the screens had linkages to other data sources and systems

4. VuFind Open source library resource portal Developed by Villanova University VU had same basic infrastructure as the Library’s existing catalogue Minimal configuration was required

5. The prototype Light on time and resources Collaboration between Library system administrators and ILMS managers Test space Implement the Library’s requirements Test with internal users Refine the findings 2 May 2008 VuFind implemented as catalogue

6. VuFind prototype

7. Review VuFind interface Why? Prototype became production catalogue without user testing of interface Who? Web Publishing Branch received funding to conduct this review How? Library worked with Stamford Interactive, a usability consultancy to conduct the review

8. What did we want to know? Who is using the catalogue? Where do users come from? Does the catalogue interface deliver what the Library’s users need? If not, why not? Can the Library provide users with even more of what they need?

9. The mission Review the existing user interface Recommendations to improve the overall usability of the catalogue interface Investigate similar catalogues from Australia and around the world

10. Focus group Director, Collection Delivery & Storage Branch Director, Reader Services Director, Serials Collection Management & Standards Branch Library Graduate Manager, Australian Collections & Reader Services Manager, Document Supply Service Manager, ILMS Unit Manager, Serials Collection Management & Standards Branch Senior Web Designer Systems Administrator Director Web Publishing Branch (Acting)

11. The process Ran a user survey Defined user profiles Interviewed users Walkthrough with users Considered the findings

12. How would you describe yourself?

13. How old are you?

14. Where do you live?

15. Did you access the catalogue from Australia or from overseas?

16. From where did you access the catalogue?

17. How did you get to the catalogue?

18. Why did you visit the catalogue?

19. How often do you visit?

20. Describe yourself

21. User profiles

22. User walkthroughs We worked with nine typical users Ran two user test sessions First session users had to complete a set of tasks using the current VuFind catalogue interface Second session users tested the revised interface with changes based on the first session

24. Validate labeling issues

25. Validate changes in:

26. Homepage

27. Results page

28. Search box

37. Some recommendations Survey every 6 months ✔ Remove all formats drop down ✘ Remove chatty text ✔ Change browse to browse alphabetically ✔ Close some facets ✘ Reduce number of results to 10 per screen ✘ Remove the comments tab & functionality ✘

44. Use friendly words

51. Thank you bgraham@nla.gov.au Tel: 02 6262 1542 http://libertylittlebasil.blogspot.com/@LibertyBasil phagon@nla.gov.au Tel: 02 6262 1026 http://www.paulhagon.com/@paulhagon