UGL UX STUDIES
FALL ‘12/ SPRING ‘13
RUTH YEH
SHELFLISTER UX
DEMOGRAPHICS
•  N=3
•  Worked for library 2-3 semesters
•  Shelves books 3 hours/week (media 4 hours/week)
•  Trained for shelving 1-2 hours
OVERALL COMMENTS
Did not find app helpful
for shelving
Found app helpful for
shelf-reading books
• Participants said it
slowed them down
compared to their
usual shelving
methods
• Holding the tablet +
scanner + books to be
shelved was awkward
• Was told checking for
order is not something
that is usually done
when shelving books
• Having books out in
the general area is
better than not
having them out at all
DESIGN SUGGESTIONS
Layout
• T itle of books/items should be below the
horizontal divider rather than over it
Add buttons
• Add a “Go” button to the start/end book
area
• All three participants got stuck at one
point because the app didn’t
automatically search after scanning
Remove buttons
• Remove ability to select a book and
move to the home screen
• Participants would accidentally click on
a book and not know how to move back
to the ShelfList. This action also cleared
the search results.
OUTPUT SUGGESTIONS
Call numbers
• Add call #’s in the book
information output
Emphasize information
• Emphasize call numbers and
titles
• The current font ratio relative
to information importance is
off
• SA’s do not use author or
publication year in shelving;
title is also rarely used
RECOMMENDATIONS
Market this as a
training app for
new shelvers
• More experienced
shelvers do not think it
will aid them in
shelving and
probably won’t use it
Useful for shelfreading
• Participant that
thought the app was
not helpful for shelf
ordering because he
could do it himself
made mistakes.
Ask students to
use the app when
checking for
book order
IDEAS FOR FUTURE APP
Streamline the process
for checking out
media/tech items from
the library
Current system:
Ideas for future system:
• Manually search for specific
templates for each tech
item
• Input student name and
information
• Print form and get signatures
• Scanning the item & student
id will auto-fill the form/
template
• E-sign system
COMPUTER SCIENCE
STUDENTS INTERVIEWS
DEMOGRAPHICS
•  N=3
•  4th year computer science majors
•  Exit interview feedback for semester long project
CURRENT APPS USED
Web
Browser
Minrva
Gmail
Self-created
apps
Pizzazz
LIBRARY/RESEARCH NEEDS?
Current Minrva functions
•  Search books
•  Request/renew items
•  Citations
Chat
•  Add “ask-a-librarian” function
Research efficiency
•  Less work to get more information
LOCATION SPECIFIC NEEDS?
Availability
• Rooms
• Tech/computers
• Refine search results/availability based on current location
Reservations
• Study rooms
• Technology
Information
• See hours of the libraries near your current location
• Find exact location of specific book before going to library
Coffee ordering app
• Drinks can be delivered to students or picked up
EXAMPLE USE CASES
Basic Library Tasks
• Citations: while doing research can just scan
books to generate citation
• Renewals on-the-go
• Accessing account from app
Login system
• Allows people to have a more personalized
system
• Can look at past search history
DESIGN PROCESS PROS
Freedom
Feedback
•  Enjoyed openended style of
project
•  Starting from
scratch instead
of picking up a
previous project
•  Weekly
meetings were
helpful (timely
feedback to
work)
•  Staff made sure
the app design
worked with the
audience being
marketed to
Research
•  Gathering
information on
current student
needs
DESIGN PROCESS CONS
More information
More structure
Afterwork
• Would like more
information on the
process
• Knowing more
about what was
going to be
changed before/
after the UX studies
• Wanted more strict
deadlines or
timelines/goals set
• A hard deadline
would have been
helpful for setting
personal
benchmarks
• Or splitting the
app design
process into stages
or benchmarks
• Knowing what to
do after the
majority of the
project is done
• Set specific
deliverables
besides for just the
modules
DATA PROBLEMS FOR LIBRARY SYSTEMS
Non-standardized systems
• Libraries do not have standardized systems for reservations or
user data
• Makes it difficult to access them quickly and efficiently as a
developer
No public APIs
• No public APIs for library data so it’s difficult for the average
student/programmer to develop apps
Nate solves data problems
• Students said they were only able to overcome these data issues
because Nate had already gathered the resources
WHY COLLABORATE AGAIN?
Knowledgeable
staff
Great
communication
Student
perspective on
student issues
Quick/easy
feedback
Great group to
work with
PARTING REMARKS
Marketing
Didn’t even Make sure to
Advertise at
know libraries advertise so
the help desk
would think
students
and make
of stuff like
know the
brochures
this
app exists
MINRVA 2.0 UX
DEMOGRAPHICS
•  N=3
•  2 Library science grad students, 1 accounting
sophomore
•  1 participant did not own a smartphone, 2 did not
currently use mobile applications for library,
research or coursework
•  1 student did not have account with library
GENERAL COMMENTS
Don’t see myself
doing hardcore
research on my
phone but app
is great for doing
administrative
things with
account
Would probably
only use journal/
catalog search
for a specific
book while in
the library
Really like the
idea of being
able to check
requested items/
renew items on
the app
LOG IN/LOG OUT
Specify Account
• Vufind
Obvious location
• Put the log in/out
icon in a
conspicuous location
• I.E., upper right hand
corner
BLOCKS
Description
• Explain what this
module is
supposed to
display
CATALOG SEARCH
Layout
• T itle of books/items should be below the
horizontal divider rather than over it
• This caused a lot of confusion among
participants
Unexpected Bugs
• Could not see typed characters in search bar
when phone is in portrait view
Add Buttons
• Make it clear that title names are clickable
• Buttons to directly add to favorites or generate
citation from search screen
Databases
• Add more libraries/Primo
Add Requests
• Want to be able to add requests from catalog
search
CHECKED OUT
Renewal function
• At the time of the
study the renewal
function was not
operational
CITATION
User Favorite
• Especially helpful for
international students
Send via SMS
• Add ability to send citation in
text
Directions
• Display directions that explain
that information must be
loaded in from catalog search
COURSE RESERVES
•  No comments
FAVORITES
Helpful
•  Liked that I could save
items from my searches
for the future
Multiple Lists
•  Add ability to create
different lists to facilitate
research
•  Example: Lists for research
paper and personal
reading
FINES
Location
• Specify where you
owe the fine
• Could be University
or Library fines
JOURNAL SEARCH
Least Favorite
• Specify that it is an article search (not a
search for journal names)
Consistency with website
• Language should be consistent
throughout for what is an article/journal/
database
More Choices
• Would like more journals to choose from
Unexpected Bugs
• Application crashed at least once while
in this module
REQUESTED ITEMS
Convenient
• Can see if the item is
ready for pick up
while on-the-go
SCANNER
Unexpected Bugs
• Application crashed
at least once while in
this module
TECHNOLOGY
Specify Feeds
• Specify where the
feed is from
More Locations
• Add more library
locations
WAYFINDER
Display Floor
• Show what floor the
item is on
Unexpected Bugs
• Application crashed
at least once in this
module
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE MODULES
Add general
information on libraries
(location/hours)
Integration with
compass
Feed for scanner/room/
computer availability in
the libraries
Room Reservations
Text to chat with “AskA-Librarian”
Changing the ordering
of the modules on the
home screen may help
with new user learning
curve
STUDENT COMPETITION
DEMOGRAPHICS
•  Students participated in a mobile app
development competition, afterward they were
asked to come in for exit interviews
•  N=14
Class Standing
8
6
4
2
0
School
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
CURRENT APPS USED
Blackboard/
Compass
Dictionary/
Wikipedia
Internet
Browsers
Istudy
Youtube
MTD app
Article
Databases
Google
apps
Dropbox
LIBRARY/RESEARCH NEEDS
6 said
6 said
4 said
• Find Resources
• Check availability of resources
• Productivity for Studying
LOCATION NEEDS
6 Said
• Availability of resources
7 said
• Navigation
2 said
• Reservation
1 said
• Information
2 said
•  Other/NA
DESIGN PROCESS PROS
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Brainstorming
Focus Groups
Design
Personalize
DESIGN PROCESS CONS
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
USE CASES BY TYPE
Application Use Case Types
New
Innovation
19%
Information
11%
Reservation
11%
Find
Resource
22%
Group
Work
18%
Resource
Availability
19%
WHY WOULD YOU PARTICIPATE
AGAIN?
6 said
7 said
3 said
1 said
• To meet new people
• For the experience
• To apply their knowledge to another field
• Liked that it was unrestricted/unstructured
HOW COULD WE IMPROVE THE
COMPETITION?
Implementation
“Location
specific”
Communicate
Students expressed
that they wanted
to see their idea
being carried to
fruition
Explain location
specific more
thoroughly
Some students
wanted more
communication
with the organizers
Perhaps team up
with CS students to
implement the
ideas
Many students
were confused by
this term
Better
communication
within the library
about the contest
RESPONSES TO TOURS AND
PRESENTATION REVIEW
16
14
12
10
8
Yes
6
No
4
2
0
Tours
Review Changes
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
Provide a rubric
for judges and
give feedback
with score sheets
for participants
after
presentations
Competition was
a nice way for
students to
collaborate with
others and gain
experience
applying their
fields
All participants
said they would
collaborate with
the library again
RESEARCHER SUGGESTIONS
Procedure
Questions
Recruitment
• Set specific
tasks
• Talk-aloud
• Screen
recording
• Tailored to
research
interests
• Be more
specific
• Use fliers/web
• Use online
scheduler
• Sign-Up
Genius
• Doodle
THE END
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Questions?
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