ASK UCD

Chris Jasek of Elsevier’s User Centered Design Group answers your usability questions.

Q: How can I convince my co-workers that our library Web pages aren't very usable?

A: Opinions just don't seem to cut it when discussing usability and design; you've got to provide colleagues with data that's tough to brush aside. To get that data you’re going to need to run your own usability test or have someone else run it for you. If your test data shows, for example, 7 out of 10 users could not locate the Journal of Criminal Justice you've found some pretty hard evidence that your library website is not very usable. In most cases the usability of your website will not be this disastrous, but as a result of testing you’ll collect lots of data helpful in improving the efficiency, labeling and navigation of your website.

Your users deserve the best service and user experience you can offer and since most users access the library through your website it makes sense to pay a lot of attention to usability. For more information about library website design and running a usability test see our Library Connect practical assistance pamphlet, How to Design Library Websites to Maximize Usability.

Expert Usability Reviews at Internet Librarian

Chris Jasek, Manager with Elsevier's User Centered Design team, will speak twice at Internet Librarian in Monterey, California in October 2005.

On October 26, from 2:45 to 3:30pm, Chris will serve on the Track D (Intranets & Portals) panel "Expert Reviews of Real-World Intranets." Chris and other design experts participating on the panel will review specific library websites selected in advance of Internet Librarian and offer advice regarding the sites.

Chris will also deliver the presentation "How to Design Library Websites to Maximize Usability" in the Internet Librarian exhibit hall. Visit the Elsevier booth for more details and a copy of the accompanying Library Connect practical assistance pamphlet.