webpac, encore, and research pro usability issues at deakin university aiug conference november...
TRANSCRIPT
WebPAC, Encore, and Research Pro usability issues at Deakin UniversityAIUG Conference November 12-13, 2009
www.deakin.edu.au/library
About Deakin University
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• 4 campuses– 1 metropolitan, 3 regional
• Diverse user groups with different needs– regional/metropolitan/international students– 30% study off campus
• Academic staff evenly spread across age groups and genders
www.deakin.edu.au/library
Usability testing background
• Testing conducted in 2008 and again in 2009: – 4 user groups identified: U/G, P/G, Academic, International– Participants asked to complete a series of tasks, and encouraged to “think out loud”
• 2008 testing compared 3 search interfaces – Existing WebPAC / New version of WebPAC/ Encore
• 2009 testing focused on the Library’s search gateway– How the search interfaces “hung together” on the Library home page– What pathways were clients choosing?– Had the usability issues identified in earlier testing been addressed?
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WebPAC Pro: tabbed layout
www.deakin.edu.au/library
‘Tabbed’ layout in use 2007-2008
WebPAC Pro: Skyline-based layout
www.deakin.edu.au/library
www.deakin.edu.au/library
www.deakin.edu.au/library
www.deakin.edu.au/library
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Classic catalogue working “as well as it can”• Has loyal followers – academics,
postgraduate students, librarians• Has some ‘idiosyncracies’ or inherent flaws
that make it difficult for the average undergraduate to use it intuitively
WebPAC Pro: Inherent problems
www.deakin.edu.au/library
Number of options / choices can be overwhelming for undergraduates and international students
www.deakin.edu.au/library
Using search box at top of search results screen, and failing to change the index drop down box
Incorrect author searchingIncorrect use of Subject index – not realising it’s a controlled vocabulary
www.deakin.edu.au/library
Encore
• Running Encore version 3• About to upgrade to version 3.3
• Initially results a little overwhelming• Easy to understand once they “get it”
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Handles author searching well• ‘Refine by’ facet used • Now the default search for most users
www.deakin.edu.au/library
Encore problems
Selecting ‘Available online’ when trying to access e-books or journals
www.deakin.edu.au/library
•No Deakin Header / Navigation / Different colour scheme• Lack of tailorability• Concepts like ‘Add to cart’ unfamiliar• Clients wonder: “Where am I”?
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Major usability issue: Encore unable to deliver effective unit material searching
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Unable to deliver effective unit material searching
Unit materialE-readingsExam papersReading list materialReserve by UnitReserve by Lecturer
• Need tailorable facets so we can offer a Unit material facet
The same search in Encore:
Research Pro
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• #1 usability issue: the way the tabs display
• Client sees blank tab with no result and walks away
• Tended to be flaky
Research Pro Version 2.0
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Direct links to Full Text HTML or PDF from results display• Cover images when available• Faster• No tabs
www.deakin.edu.au/library
• Research Pro 2.0 has better integration with Encore 3.3• User can stay in article searching• Relevancy ranking better than Summon• Possibly the focus of the next round of usability testing!
