Making Library Web Sites Usable : A LITA Guide

by Lehman, Tom; Nikkel, Terry

• ISBN13: 9781555706203
• ISBN10: 1555706207
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Neal Schuman Pub

Table of Contents

List of Figures	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Usability for Library Web Sites	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
What Is Usability?	p. 2
Usability in Libraries	p. 2
Building Effective Library Usability Programs	p. 3
Suggestions for Usability Beginners	p. 4
Potential Pitfalls	p. 5
Conclusion	p. 6
References	p. 6
Heuristics	p. 7
Introduction	p. 7
Types of Heuristics	p. 7
Heuristic Evaluation	p. 12
Conclusion	p. 14
References	p. 14
Heuristic Evaluation Form	p. 17
Surveys	p. 19
Introduction	p. 19
Reasons for Doing Surveys	p. 19
Advantages and Disadvantages of Surveys	p. 20
Steps in Survey Design	p. 20
Conclusion	p. 27
References	p. 27
Focus Group Interviews	p. 29
Introduction	p. 29
Determining Your Purpose and Budget	p. 31
Selecting Participants	p. 31
Developing Relevant Questions	p. 32
Scheduling and Facilitating the Meeting	p. 33
Analyzing the Results	p. 34
Conclusion	p. 35
References	p. 35
Helpful Web Sites	p. 35
Card Sorting	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
Process	p. 37
Methodology	p. 38
Case Study: Dalhousie University	p. 40
Conclusion	p. 42
Paper Prototypes	p. 43
Introduction	p. 43
Paper Prototype Design	p. 45
Usability Testing with Paper Prototypes	p. 46
Presenting Results	p. 49
Conclusion	p. 50
References	p. 50
Usability Testing	p. 53
Introduction	p. 53
Preparing for the Usability Test	p. 53
Conducting the Usability Test	p. 58
Tips for Effective Moderation	p. 58
Analyzing the Results	p. 59
Conclusion	p. 60
References	p. 60
Web Server Logs Analysis	p. 61
Introduction	p. 61
Advantages and Disadvantages of Transaction Logs Analysis	p. 62
Alternatives to Transaction Logs Analysis	p. 63
Case Study: Indiana University Libraries	p. 65
Conclusion	p. 73
References	p. 74
Attracting Users for Testing	p. 77
Introduction	p. 77
Institutional Review Boards and Recruitment	p. 77
Marketing Like a Business	p. 77
Working with Others to Attract Subjects	p. 80
Incentives	p. 82
Location and Scheduling	p. 84
Conclusion	p. 84
Low-Cost Usability Recording	p. 85
Introduction	p. 85
About HyperCam	p. 86
Configuring HyperCam	p. 86
About Microphones	p. 91
Using HyperCam	p. 96
Playback	p. 97
Analyzing Results	p. 98
Conclusion	p. 98
References	p. 99
Communicating Usability Results Effectively	p. 101
Introduction	p. 101
Types of Results and Findings	p. 101
Choosing a Report Format	p. 102
Recording a Description of Each Test Session	p. 104
Educating Staff about Usability Techniques	p. 104
Instructional Material for Usability	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 106
References	p. 106
Usability Case Study: Purdue University Libraries	p. 107
Context	p. 107
The Testing	p. 107
Findings	p. 109
Communicating with the Webmasters	p. 110
Underlying Infrastructure	p. 110
Prototypes	p. 110
Final Redesign	p. 110
Conclusion	p. 111
Usability Case Study: University of Virginia	p. 113
Context	p. 113
Process	p. 114
2005 Review of Usability Procedures	p. 115
Conclusion	p. 117
References	p. 117
Usability Case Study: Wright State University	p. 119
Context	p. 119
The Testing	p. 120
Findings	p. 121
Conclusion	p. 123
References	p. 123
Web Sites Tested	p. 123
Script	p. 124
Usability Case Study: Clinton-Macomb Public Library	p. 125
Context	p. 125
The Challenge	p. 125
Planning Phase	p. 126
User Testing	p. 128
Redesign Phase	p. 132
Findings	p. 132
Conclusion	p. 134
References	p. 135
User Testing Script	p. 136
Usability Case Study: The Mitre Corporation	p. 137
Context	p. 137
The Redesign of the Mitre Digital Library	p. 139
User-Centered Design	p. 139
Digital Library-Specific Challenges	p. 149
Conclusion	p. 155
Usability Case Study: NASA Goddard Library	p. 157
Context	p. 157
The Challenge	p. 158
Process	p. 159
Findings	p. 161
Conclusion	p. 165
Usability Test Guide	p. 168
Bibliography	p. 171
About the Editors and Contributors	p. 177
Index	p. 181
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