Journal of Web Librarianship · 2013 · 72 citations · 7 references
ArtsDesignInformation DesignInteraction DesignUser Experience DesignExperience DesignUsability EngineeringUsability EvaluationUsability TestingUser Needs AnalysisUser-centered DesignStyle Guide DevelopmentUser TestingWeb Usability TestingWebsite Usability Evaluation
Usability testing is routinely used by libraries to ensure web accessibility, yet LibGuides’ decentralized authoring places content creation in the hands of librarians who may lack user‑centered design training. Researchers at Metropolitan State University conducted usability testing on LibGuides to observe patron interactions. They performed two rounds of usability testing with ten students, one alumnus, and one community patron. Patrons struggled most with jargon, inconsistent language, and visual clutter, leading researchers to recommend ongoing usability testing and a style guide to aid librarians in creating usable, accessible guides.
Usability testing has become a routine way for many libraries to ensure that their Web presence is user-friendly and accessible. At the same time, popular subject guide creation systems, such as LibGuides, decentralize Web content creation and put authorship into the hands of librarians who may not be trained in user-centered design principles. At Metropolitan State University, researchers performed usability testing on LibGuides in order to see how patrons interact with guides. Researchers completed two rounds of usability testing on a total of ten students, one alumnus, and one community patron. The results indicate that patrons struggled most when encountering jargon, inconsistent language, and visual clutter. Based on their findings, researchers recommend ongoing usability testing of subject guides as well as the creation of a style guide to help librarians create usable, accessible guides.
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