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
