Robert L. Bogomolny Library
University of Baltimore’s Robert L Bogomolny Library is a university student resource that supplies students with access to the Maryland university interlibrary loan system, resources within the Bogomolny library system and research databases. My team and I conducted two rounds of usability studies to provide the library with recommendations to improve students’ experience.
The ask: Moderate two rounds of a usability study via Zoom to understand students’ experience as they search for information and to identify barriers that may affect their success.
The Team
Nicole Eggleston, Sandra Koranteng, and Briona Jones
When: September 2020 – December 2020
Robert L. Bogomolny Library Page
We were asked to conduct and moderate user testing for the library page on University of Baltimore’s website. We tested the library’s search, navigation, chat feature and the usability of the checkout and interlibrary loan processes.
How: The testing was comprised of realistic tasks that my team and I asked the user via Zoom to do that mirrored scenarios the student would find themselves in. The first round of testing determined problem areas and barriers within the library’s search, navigation and usability of checkout and interlibrary loan processes. The second round had the same objectives while testing the prototype.
What we learned: how to plan, organize and moderate user testing, create realistic tasks and scenarios for the user, how to present qualitative data to the client to show the value of our recommendations
Chat Feature
My team and I recommended to the client to make changes to the chat feature to draw attention to it as our participants did not notice it.
Checkout Process
The checkout process for the library system was confusing and unclear to participants. We recommended that the client create a guided tour to help users navigate.
Interlibrary Loan Process
The interlibrary loan process was confusing as well to participants. We recommended that the client include a clear indicator for the user to ask for help.