An introduction to usability for library web managers

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An introduction to usability for library web
managers

• Sarah Agarwal
• Consultant Project Manager
• Internet Development group (ID)

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• What Im going to cover
• what is usability?
• a live usability test!
• two quick case studies
• about us

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What is usability?
Definitions
What do users want to use library websites for?
MLANET example Is this really relevant for
non-commercial sites? The government thinks so
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Statistics

• (old) 1997 Forrester Research audited 20 major
  sites, finding 51 compliance with simple Web
  usability principles such as is the site
  organised by user goals?
• (new) 60 of government websites in need of
  immediate attention

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Quick usability test

• Three tasks
• Find the phone number for the reference desk.
  Task Find contacts
• Find out if book Easy way to stop smoking is in
  stock, and reserve. Task Find books
• Audience suggestion????
• Test on 3 random libraries

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Quick case studies

1. BBC Research Central

2. Kansas City Public Library
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Kansas City Public Library

• Techniques used
• Log analysis
• Cognitive walkthrough
• User testing

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More techniques

• Focus groups, surveys and chats
• Usability evaluation
• Competitive review
• More advanced techniques
• Card-sorting
• Eye-tracking
• You only need to get 5 users!

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About us - ILRT

• www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk
• digital libraries
• e-learning
• digital imaging
• Internet Development (ID) - consultancy
• semantic web

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About us - ID

• Consultancy arm www.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/id
• Web application development
• Content Management Systems, portals, booking
  systems, online survey technology
• Websites
• Graphic design
• Usability and accessibility
• E-learning applications

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Questions?