what do users want from our website?
TRANSCRIPT
What Do Users Want from Our Website?
A User Study of the UC San Diego Library Website
SuHui (Sue) HoDigital User Experience Librarian
Agenda
• Discussion of our study• Methodologies• Process – how I did it• Research findings• What I learned – UX culture and stakeholder buy-ins
UC San Diego
• Large public research university
• One of the UCs• Student
population: 30,000
Image credit: Łukasz Lech
The Library
• One library• Centralized– Academic Services– Collection Services– Enterprise Services
Image credit: http://ucpa.ucsd.edu/ & marshillonline
My Position
• New position• Expert in UX• Main UX researcher
Academic Services
Digital User Services Director
Web Managing
Editor
Digital User Experience Librarian
Purpose of Study
• Library research process• Website goals • Website tasks • Navigation and information architecture • Content and terminology
Methodologies
• Interview• “XO” exercise of navigational menus• Participatory design - draw their ideal library home
page
Interview
• Major/Subject Discipline/Level• Information research process• What do you usually do on the library’s website?
XO Exercise
• Homepage and Menus
Follow-up Questions
• Likes• Dislikes• Confusions• Suggestions
• Participatory design – design an ideal website for yourself
Recruitment
• Homepage carousel• Eye-catching • Incentive $20• Students within a week• Faculty – 1 responded
and 2 via liaisons
Demographics
• 10 users– 4 Undergrads– 3 Grads– 3 Faculty
Scheduling
• LibCal My Scheduler• Choose a time within 2
weeks
Automatic Confirmation
• Hi Joe,
This email confirms your appointment:
When: 1:00pm Friday, February 27, 2015 Geisel Library Usability Lab With: Suhui Ho ([email protected])
The Usability Lab is on Geisel Library’s 2nd floor. To reach the room, turn left when you enter Geisel Library and proceed to the west wing toward the Research Assistance Desk. A librarian will meet you at the desk.
If you should have any difficulty, you can ask at any service desk for assistance.
I look forward to seeing you. Many thanks.
To cancel this appointment visit: http://ucsd.libcal.com/cancel_app.php?i=108876&c=6b71879f8e2e648a7c61ae929189afb3
• SuHui Ho, Digital User Experience Librarian 858-xxx-xxxx
Data Analysis
• Collect and organize the data
UX Findings
• The library website is a tool for me– Utilitarian– Simple– Task oriented
UX Findings
• Top Tasks– Catalogs – Off-Campus Access– Reserves– e-Journals– My Library Account– Databases A-Z
– Hours– Reserve a Study Room
Resources
Study Space
UX Findings
• User needs differ according to– Discipline– Level of scholarship
• Audience navigation
UX Findings
• Common practice among all levels:– Known item searching– Easy access to catalog and e-journals– Easy access to a few good databases
UX Findings
• Everyone (including faculty) wants to search!
UX Findings
• They want to
Explore
UX Findings
• They want
Help
• Terminology• Placement
UX Findings
• Menu items got little to no use:
What I learned & Tips
• Planning• UX Culture– Not just usability tests– Guidance & education– Stakeholder buy-ins
• Collaboration
What I learned & Tips
• Look for quick wins– Guerrilla style UX– Tech tools
