for the Five College User Experience Committee
Two wayfinding tests (Spring 2016, Spring 2017), with 6 and 7 first-year students attempting to find three items in Frost Library, using talk-aloud protocol to voice their thought processes and reactions. The second test included a pair of video-recording glasses, to help in observing which wayfinding tools students used in their process.
In 2013, a group of Mount Holyoke librarians made significant changes to the reading room space in the library. We gathered student input by hosting several participatory design sessions for students. Students were asked to draw their ideal reading room, or describe it if they were not comfortable drawing, and librarians would ask students to describe their vision. We drew students in by offering free treats – we made chocolate kiss trails on the floor of the building to the workshop room, and went around the library with a tray of brownies and strawberries announcing the opportunity to participate and inviting students to the sessions. Continue reading “Reading Room Space Redesign”
The Smith College Libraries conducted usability testing in 2016 during local development of a new interface and “bento box” style of display for search results from EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS).
Research and usability tests were conducted by a team made up of staff members from the Smith College Libraries Web Coordination Team and Discovery & Access and Teaching, Learning & Research departments. Planning for the project was informed by results of EBSCO user experience studies.
The Bento group met to review usability test results and discuss changes — in content, functionality, design, and language — after each successive round of testing. The “New Discover” was launched on the Smith Libraries website in January, 2017.
Continue reading “New Discover Usability Testing: Bento-Style”