Maps & library wayfindingJim Hahn & Alaina Morales, University of Illinois,

Undergraduate Library

Android App: Library Helper

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CAD• CAD map – architectural layout– CAD maps are to scale• Also does not auto-rotate

– But not preferred by students

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Five users per map• Process– We asked students in the library to try out our app– Think aloud, interview, observation for each map

Comments from CAD Maps• If the map had labels on top showing the Dewey

ranges, with sections labeled to understand where you are.

• helpful if it told you what section you were in• Student wants more exact map rather than general

area

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Upper and Lower level• 2nd iteration: map scope is 2 floors and uses

directional arrows

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Comments for 2nd map• if the arrows worked it wouldn’t be confusing• want to see the entire floor and then zoom in• Map did not reload to lower level– Students confused by directional arrows

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Distorted maps• Student conceptual frame is a bookstore

model– They expect the library to be organized by subjects

like a bookstore so they liked how the call numbers were shown as sections on the map – as opposed to individual stacks.

Third iteration• Scope of map reduced to one level

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Single floor view• Confused by directional arrows• Wish I could see the title of the book (on map),

if I see the title, I could remember what I’m looking for

• Surprised that it could find the aisles of the books, saved time in looking it up

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Final iteration• Before we uploaded to Android Market we

removed directional arrows since it seemed those worked against wayfinding.

Future Data Points• Datapoints– Worldview map / Placefinder map (you are here)• Libraries need gaming mechanists to help build

immersive and engaging maps

– Influenced by Google maps• Turn by turn directions

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Worldview data

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Turn by turn

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Questions?• Alaina– morale26@illinois.edu

• Jim– jimhahn@illinois.edu

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Publications• Hahn, J. & Morales, A. (2011). Rapid prototyping a collections-based

mobile wayfinding application. Journal of Academic Librarianship 37 (5) – http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24001

• Hahn, J. & Zitron, L. (2011). How first-year students navigate the stacks: implications for improving wayfinding. Reference & User Services Quarterly 51 (1)– http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24002

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AcknowledgementsPresenters wish to acknowledge the Research and Publication Committee of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library and the University of Illinois Campus Research Board, which provided support for the completion of this research.

Many thanks also to Dennis Matthews, PhD candidate in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois for his technical expertise in the development of the wayfinding app and in building positioning software.

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