Web Usability Workshop

Web Usability Workshop

Kreitzberg Library

November 22, 2013

Agenda • Why web usability? • Learning from data • Personas and primary tasks • Writing for the web • Next up…

Questions & thoughts welcome anytime

Why web usability is important

“Don’t Make Me Think”

Steve Krug 2nd Edition

Learning from data

Male 74%

Female 26%

Undergraduates 2013-2014

Corps 65%

Civilian 19%

Comm. 16%

Undergraduates by Lifestyle 2013-2014

Undergraduate Majors

2013-2014

Most Popular 1. Criminal Justice – 396

students 2. Mechanical Engineering – 159

students 3. Nursing – 158 students

Only six majors have over 100

students.

Smallest major is Chinese – one

student.

Faculty 2012-2013

161 Full Time 166 Part Time

216 Men (66%) 111 Women (34%)

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Average Class Size

Lower Level

18.4 Upper Level

12.2

# of Full Time Faculty 1. English (15) 2. Mathematics (12)

3. Architecture & CJ (11 each)

CC BY-SA

http://projectinfolit.org/

Sad Adjectives

Library is Used 24%

Use online library resources frequently

44% Occasionally

LJ Study

Nearly all students use the library

website. ECAR Study pg. 11

Top Reasons for Using University Desktops 1. Printing 2. Laptop Sub

3. Accessing the library ECAR Study pg. 26

88% Use databases

for course research

PIL

Now now now!

75% want immediate answers

to questions. LJ Study

68% want what they need on site.

LJ Study

Do not think of librarians

83% use instructors for

course research. Only 30% use

librarians. PIL

“…strong preference for consulting course instructors and friends and

peers.” ERIAL Preliminary Report pg. 8

Faculty Tendencies "Faculty members are more likely to recommend online

than onsite services and resources to their students.“

LJ Study

“Faculty training still does not acknowledge the fact that digital media

literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in very discipline and

profession” Horizon Report pg. 9

CC BY

Entering the Library Website

my.norwich

63.91%

Visit Trends

Internet Explorer is the most popular

browser.

Very little traffic from mobile devices.

Less than 4%.

74.15% Windows Nearly 96% of visitors go to one of three pages, then

leave.

Our Patrons Guide

http://guides.norwich.edu/ourpatrons

Personas

What are personas?

• Fictional characters • Have a story • Based on existing knowledge & data

James

CC BY-NC

Olivia

CC BY-NC

Writing for the web

How People Read on the Web

Skim and scan Read in an F pattern – top and left sides of the page

Only about 32% make it to the 5th

paragraph At most read 28% of

the content, more likely 20%

Style Guidelines • Put essential messages near top of the page • Use headers to organize and break up content • Cut unnecessary text • Write in a conversational style using active voice • Use parallel structure • Make good use of links • Watch out for jargon (think about what our users call things)

Before

After

Tone & Voice Voice

The distinct overall personality, style or point of view of writing on your website. KL is user focused and professional-friendly.

Tone How you say it. Adapted to your audience.

How should our web copy be…

What is up next

Upcoming Plans • Editing pages based on guidelines • Usability testing • Migration to LibGuides2

Other ideas…..?