This document summarizes the work of the User Research Center at Harvard Library. It provides an overview of who they are, how they work, and what they have accomplished. The center conducts user research such as paper prototyping, usability testing, and test fests to evaluate designs and gather feedback from users. They work with campus partners to improve user experience and accessibility. Quotes from participants highlight how the research has helped improve products and services. The center is located in Lamont Library and welcomes consultations.

1. Building a Culture of UX
Stories from the User Research Center

2. User Experience

3. User Experience
“Every aspect of the user's interaction with a
product, service, or company that make up
the user's perceptions of the whole.”
-UXPA

4. Usability & Accessibility

5. Usability & Accessibility
Ease of use

6. Usability & Accessibility
Ease of use
No barriers to access

7. Why at the library?

8. WHO WE ARE
HOW WE WORK
WHAT WE’VE DONE

9. WHO WE ARE
HOW WE WORK
WHAT WE’VE DONE

10. User Research Center (A10)

19. WHO WE ARE
HOW WE WORK
WHAT WE’VE DONE

20. CONSULTATIONS

21. TRAINING

22. EQUIPMENT

23. SPACE

24. WHO WE ARE
HOW WE WORK
WHAT WE’VE DONE

25. Paper Prototype Testing

26. Paper Prototype Testing
“Paper prototyping is a technique that consists
of creating paper versions of user interfaces in
order to enable them to be rapidly designed,
simulated and tested.”
-Justin Misfud

28. Explain the
prototype
Paper Prototype Testing

29. Explain the
prototype
Paper Prototype Testing
Ask about
expectations

30. Explain the
prototype
Confirm that
labels
make sense
Ask about
expectations
Get feedback
on content
organization
Paper Prototype Testing

33. Paper Prototype Testing
“This is the right amount of
content, but it has too many
words.”

34. searchsmarter.library.harvard.edu

35. Usability Testing

36. Usability Testing
Evaluating a product or service by testing it with
potential users. Participants will complete tasks
while narrating their actions aloud. Observers
watch, listen and takes notes.

37. Usability Testing

38. Usability Testing
What are the most important
things someone needs to do
on your site?

39. Usability Testing
What are the most important
things someone needs to do
on your site?
Where do you suspect
there are problems?
What is confusing?

47. Test Fest

50. 1
2
3
4
5
URCMainEntrance

54. "I think this was a great
opportunity and should
be available to more
students.
I'm happy that there are
so many resources for
students to achieve
success.”
-Undergraduate participant

55. “In working with the URC
we were able to put our
emergent peer-tutoring
platform in front of
students.
The feedback we received
will drive a much better
experience for our end
users.”
-Rob McCarthy, HUIT

56. LET’S TALK

59. User Research Center
bit.ly/harvardlibraryurc
libraryux@harvard.edu
617-496-5272
Lamont Library, A10
Amy Deschenes
amy_deschenes@harvard.edu
@amyhannah