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Community Needs Assessment Committee

UW Library - Web Gateway Usability Testing

Prof. Carolyn MacGregor
Systems Design 348

Purpose and Rationale

The project will study the usability of the University of Waterloo Library's Web Site in general and its main Gateway in particular. The goal is to make the Library's web site useful for study and research for our students and faculty. We want to make the Library web site the main window to information for our students and faculty.

The initial tests should concentrate on the Library top gateway. Additional tests will concentrate on site navigation issues and usability of individual pages within the site

Important Aspects to test:

Web Usability Questions

How does the UW Library's top web page help answer the following questions:

  1. How would you find if the library has Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace? (Trellis)
  2. Is the University Map and Design Library open on weekends? (About the Library)
  3. I need to contact the librarian for my department - how do I find his/her phone or e-mail? (About the library)
  4. Does the Library have any electronic dictionaries? (Find it)
  5. Where can I find electronic maps? (Find it)
  6. Where do I find the URL for Yahoo? (Find it)
  7. Where can I find a database in which to locate articles on Anthropology subjects? (Find it)
  8. Where can I find information on how to cite web sites? (Find it)
  9. Can I read an article of a journal without coming to the library? (Find it)
  10. Guelph Library has the book I need. How do I have it brought to UW? (Get it)
  11. How can I discover if any materials have been placed on Reserve for my courses? (Get it)
  12. How can I discover when my UW library books are due? (Get it)
  13. I am visually impaired - does the library offer any special services for me? (Get it)
  14. Where can I find the exam timetables? (Local sites)
  15. How can I find out if my course textbook is in stock at the UW Bookstore? (Help)
  16. Where can I find instructions about connecting from home? (Help)
  17. I need to find a book that is not available in our catalogue - how can I get a copy from a remote library? (Get it, ILL + Library Forms)
  18. How do I get an article from a journal that is available at the University of Guelph? (Get it, TUGDocs + Library Forms)
  19. I am a new undergraduate student - I need to do research on a topic - where do I start?
  20. What library orientation sessions are being offered for graduate students this term? (What's new or Services for Graduate Students)

Other Library Sites to compare with -

University of Arizona - http://www.library.arizona.edu/
University of Washington - http://www.lib.washington.edu/
NCSU - http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/
Yale University - http://www.library.yale.edu/
University of Pennsylvania - http://www.library.upenn.edu/

Library Contacts for the Web Usability Project:

Name

Location

Phone

e-mail (.uwaterloo.ca)

Amos Lakos

Porter

2279

aalakos@library

Anne Fullerton

Davis

6917

affuller@library

Annette Dandyk

Porter

2661

ajdandyk@library

Connie Pantic

Davis

2356

cpantic@library

Michelle Laing

Porter

5135

mlaing@library

Susan Routliffe

Porter

3312

sroutlif@library


Faculty Contacts:

Name

Location

Phone

e-mail (.uwaterloo.ca)

Dr. Carolyn MacGregor

DC 2621

2897

cgmacgre@engmail

Lora Bruyn

E2 1306C

6087

le2bruyn@engmail

Scott Anderson

E2 1306B

6087

sjanders@engmail


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July 28, 2005