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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 I’m going to cover:
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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:
1. Find the phone number for the reference
desk. Task: ‘Find contacts’
2. Find out if book ‘Easy way to stop smoking’
is in stock, and reserve. Task: ‘Find books’
3. Audience suggestion????
Test on 3 random libraries
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Quick case studies
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BBC Research Central
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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
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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?
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