Usability Testing-Focus Groups

Final Report for Spring Semester 2008 Focus Groups

To: Web Committee, Bob Hudson
From: Usability's Focus Group Team
Re: Recommendations for Changes to the Library's Web Site Based on Focus Groups Conducted in Spring, 2008
Date: May 13, 2008

 

A. Highest priority

The number one issue identified by the focus groups was the need for federated searching. This is a large project that will take time for us to get up and running. The focus group committee recommends that we move forward to look at various federated search tools, identifying the top 4 that we would like to have demo'ed at BU and picking one of these four to implement. We are currently in the process of identifying the four tools we want demo'ed. We are also compiling a bibliography about the information we are collecting on federated searching. It is available at: http://www.bu.edu/library/workfiles/usability/website/federatedsearchingbib.html

B. Things that can be changed relatively quickly and easily that we would like to do right away.

 

  1.  Change the name of the ask link to "Ask a Librarian featuring 24/7 Live Chat" or similar.  Remove the ask link from the top right part of the page.
  2. Add a link to hours from Quick Links.
  3. Change the name of the Reference Shelf link to "Quick Reference" or similar.
  4. Remove the search bar from the bottom of the page.
  5. The Research by Subject page needs to be reworked. Students find the page overwhelming. They are attracted by the name of this link, but unable to use the page when the get there. We recommend the RIS Department work together to simplify this page.
  6. Make the Library Catalog text in the catalog search box a hyper link to the top page of the library catalog.
  7. Switch the size and location of advanced search and the renewals, reserves links in the catalog search box so that Renewals and Reserves are larger and located right under the search box. Change the name of the renewals link to renew your books.
  8. Reduce the number of displayed news items from three to two.

 

C. Things that will require more effort to change


1. All of the students thought the web page was bland and needed more color and images. Some thought there were too many little links and that the font was too small. Several thought the BU emblem should be there. Examples of the comments we received include:

  • Website bland
  •  Not enough contrast
  • Font too small
  • Don't need Find Books (all agreed)
  • Like the Quick Links box
  • I like that you do not have to scroll on the current page
  • The term “online resources” was used over and over ... by the students
  • Like the little descriptions next to the links (meaning next to the five main links on top page)
  • Request a book or an article we don't own-- really clear just as it is
  • Tiny links all over—very annoying (this said looking at the Library’s top page)


For this issue we recommend:

    1.  Using BU colors--more reds
    2. Use the BU block logo as seen on the branding site: http://www.bu.edu/brand/signature/
    3. Use more photos from campus, not necessarily only the library.
    4. Use a font consistent with the recommendations of the BU Branding initiative.
    5. Better organize the page or have less on the page. Consider merging Finding articles, eJournal Locator, and Reference Shelf into one link called "Online Resources." Consider merging the Suggest a purchase and request a book or article into one link. It should be noted here that the students really like the bu.edu page. Despite the fact that it has about four times the number of links as bu.edu/library, the students find it uncluttered and easy to use. This implies to the focus group committee that we may need to reorganize our content rather than reduce the number of links on our page.
    6. Continue to fit all of the content on one page so one does not have to scroll.

 

2. The fact that there is not one central place to go for tutorials or "how to" type information was an issue that was identified by the focus groups. David Fristorm is going to create some mock up pages for WC review that would be linked from the top page and would act as a portal page to the many types of tutorials that the library has online. By tutorials we mean anything from specific class guides to the citing your sources research guide.

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