Usability Testing, User-Centered Design, and LibGuides Subject Guides: A Case Study

• Published in: Journal of web librarianship Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 83 - 94
• Main Authors: Sonsteby, Alec, DeJonghe, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2013; Routledge; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Academic Libraries; Alumni; Case Studies; College Students; Content management; End users; Exact sciences and technology; Guides; Information and communication sciences; Information processing and retrieval; Information retrieval. Man machine relationship; Information science. Documentation; LibGuides; Librarians; Libraries; Library Services; Minnesota; Online Systems; Research process. Evaluation; Sciences and techniques of general use; Studies; subject guides; Testing; Usability; Usability testing; Use Studies; User guides; user-centered design; Users (Information); Web site design; Minnesota; Guide; User; System; Result; Design; usability testing; World wide web; User oriented; Librarian; Topic; Web site design; Special purpose language; Evaluation; LibGuides; Student; Case study; Research worker; University; subject guides; Author; Library; user-centered design; Web site; Usability; Community

Usability testing has become a routine way for many libraries to ensure that their Web presence is user-friendly and accessible. At the same time, popular subject guide creation systems, such as LibGuides, decentralize Web content creation and put authorship into the hands of librarians who may not...