Testing, testing: a usability case study at University of Toronto Scarborough Library

摘要

Purpose - With the rise of virtual library users and a steady increase in digital content, it is imperative that libraries build websites that provide seamless access to key resources and services. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - Usability testing is a valuable method for measuring user habits and expectations, as well as identifying problematic areas for improvement within a website. Findings - In this paper, the authors provide an overview of user experience research carried out on the University of Toronto Scarborough Library website using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods and detail insights gained from subsequent data analysis. Originality/value - In particular, the authors discuss methods used for task-oriented usability testing and card sorting procedures using pages from the library website. Widely applicable results from this study include key findings and lessons learned from conducting usability testing in order to improve library websites.