Title: UX and LibGuides: Investigating Student Needs and Behaviors
Date: 11/10/2016
Location: Du Bois Library, Room 2601, UMass Libraries at UMass Amherst
Description:
The User Experience (UX) Committee invited Kris Markman, head of Harvard’s Digital Learning & User Experience (DLUX) department, to speak at an event for the Five College community. Markman gave an extended presentation based on a recent talk given at Computers in Libraries (2016), “Reimagining Harvard’s LibGuides,” and presented the results of an eye-tracking exercise based on some existing guides from the Five College libraries, provided by the FCUX.
Markman’s study integrated usability testing with a think-aloud protocol, eye-tracking testing, analytics, and focus groups, gathering a rich mixture of qualitative and quantitative data. Her methodological approach will inform our own work with LibGuides and research guides on our respective campuses, as at least two campuses will be actively reviewing their guides in the near future.
This presentation was an example of best practices at work in a library context, and offered not only design principles but also the opportunity to view actual student behaviors in relation to our research guide navigation. FCUX hosted Markman’s talk and provided time for questions and reflection, furthering our charge in helping the Five College libraries better understand the needs of patrons and supporting the development of a UX culture across campuses.