GroupFinderA case study on building patron-centric technology services

Joseph Ryan & Josh Boyer

NCSU Libraries

March 10, 2011

Some introductions

Outline

1. What is GroupFinder today?

2. How did we get here?

3. Have we been successful?

4. What did we learn?

1. GroupFinder Today

What GroupFinder does

What GroupFinder looks like

Who.What.Where.When.

Posting to GroupFinder

Viewing GroupFinder Posts

2. Development History

Motivation: What do students seek in the library?

Books, journals & other content

Computers & other technology

Services

Rooms

& they look for other students

2. Development History

Design

Test

Rinse & Repeat

3. Assessment

Usage

Survey results

What about offensive posts?

Typical Uses

FLS 102 Exam Review

Bio 116 Lab Presentation

ISE 501 Group 1 Case Study

Spanish Conversational Group

…and not so typical uses

Team Endospore

CSC302 Numerical Methods is really frustrating :(

HISTORY GROUP MARBURY V MADISON YEAHH

Just to pass with a C-

Usage Statistics

Lifespan of GroupFinder (Nov 2009 – present):

1367 users

4089 total posts

A recent, busy month (Nov 2010):245 users

415 total posts

14 per day

Uses by User Nov 2009 - present

2.99 posts/user

Display by Time of Day Nov 2009 - present

Views by Source Nov 2009 - present

Survey Findings

Metadata

Survey sent late in Fall 2010 semester to every person who had posted to GroupFinder during the semester (n=591)

13% response rate

Does GroupFinder help you meet up at the

library?46% “very useful”

46% “somewhat useful”

9% “not very useful”

Do you have to wait around for your group

members less?73% -- Yes

What can we do better?

Let users schedule their own start times on main web form.

Text message reminders.

Awareness of all features.

And of course: more group study rooms, better food, more seats, more power, etc.

And…

GroupFinder vs Room Reservation system: one and the same?

4. Lessons Learned

Iterative, user-centered design process

Exploring a problem space vs. solving a well understood problem

Explore gaps between functions of library departments

Thanks!

On the web: www.lib.ncsu.edu/groupfinder

More info: www.lib.ncsu.edu/dli/projects/groupfinder

Josh Boyer (josh_boyer@ncsu.edu)

Joseph Ryan (josephdryan@gmail.com)

NCSU Libraries Student Advisory Board (FREE FOOD) 2nd Floor East Wing Assembly RoomMae 206 Statics Matlab Project Group from 5:30-7:30ps 310Getting Slayed in CH223... SERIOUSLY!!ECE 566 projectHI 341 Group 14 5pmEC 302 Group E presentation meetingFun with CSC 246 (LC entrance, on that weird orange circle couch thing)HI 341 Group 14Cameron and Carl... meet us hereDr. Nau solids testCaffeine Chemistry and FacebookSoils Exam PrepHamlett's HI310 Unconventional WarfareWe the PeopleFlashmobcoffee analysis committeeLittle Knause on the PrairieCurling World Champion TryoutsThe IT book groupkd and ao's study groupJacob Goldbas's group is Studying 19th century philosophy on the second floor.Watch Jay Dawkins suffer (soil mechanics exam cram)Coffee chati tech team IIIPS310 Group 6 Unconventional WarfareDurham Academy visitorsconcrete canoe groupThermo II - MAE-302... You know the routine.Just to pass with a C-Milking it right. The physics way.A PHI APhi 331 study groupWakeNatureSW 307 group projectPsy 400 Sensation & Perception Final Study!CH 201PY 208 FinalACC 200PHI 340-Optional Final Study GroupPi Kappa Alpha Study GroupPhilosophy Study Groupcrim study groupMIE 435 Group 1Physics/AccountingHI 351 reviewSyme fiveMaple Syrup Appreciation Association Group MeetingChem 201Reid's ENG101 Presentation PracticeMIE 480 Group 5-UPSMIE 435 Group 5IS 393 final exam study group. Anybody enrolled in IS393 sections 1 and 2 is welcome.KLD and KB's study groupWu-Tang FinancialKrispy Kreme Challenge MeetingMelissa's German Study RoomPeanut Galleryjessyeng332 project-boa boaBio 105 Nezdek Feaver class studying for the test in old books room Goldbas Groupsoc 202 group presentationJay makes graphics for the Senior ClassCSC 246 party time (back of LC at the big computer stations)MA121 TutoringCircle K MeetingMAE415CH 221 Group TutoringPhage HuntersBIO 183 Korean group?NCSU Nutrition ClubFLS 202/331/332 Conv Group with Billie EspejoBUS 590 F6 project groupPhilosophy Warriors! Unite! (PHI 340)che 205 1037 to 1ECE 209Soils Study PartyBUS 350 Statistics study group

Comparative Politics with Dr.K study grouplearningstudying on third floorlocal mapping working groupCH202 - Owl 16.4-16.5 - HWork SessionBCH 451HI 203Grace web team meetinganthropology study groupECE 452/592Talecris Senior DesignMARHistory groupBME 201 Study GroupGN 311Team Killtree StudyathonBrandon's Study GroupCH101 Neyhart Exam Study GroupPS310ghiladi study groupget my study onCOM442: Quinn and GroupCampbell, Tapp, Nienstedt, Gates 415GladysPHI 205/HeinerLee's groupBUS472: ITEC Team 3Andrew BalamounCalc 2BIO 181phi 340 optional finalDU Study GroupFLS 333 Chris and JayniPS 201 & PS 320 Exam Review SessionACC 410 study groupbig tunaEquine Science Study GroupBUS 478 GROUPAwissa Wabbitteam NarwalSaunders Study GroupCOM 257 Presentation GroupAcc 200 Study Group: Candy, Melissa, NancyArabic 101 Finals Study Sessioncalc2 study groupMEDICAL MICROBIOLOGYJacob R. Goldbas for Dr. Timothy Hinton's Political Philosophy FinalMA 341H GroupMA241 StudyMexican Study TimeDream TeamFriday Group Bible StudyFLJ 301 study groupfklodhi-chem./calc study groupPY 211 Exam Cramaleja y ennioNROTC Chem 101 Study GroupKJSPS 201 Study GroupFLF 110GN 311 Study GroupGroup 2 for Presentation in ElluminateJamiezACC 411 Presentation (NEM)CH 101 - Ana IsonImmunoBio Practice