Usability Testing 101

Slides available here 
 
Library websites are essential tools in today’s online research culture, connecting researchers with the library catalogue, subject and research guides, institutional repositories, digital collections, institutional policies and more. Our websites provide access to tremendous amounts of information and it is the vastness of this information that frequently overwhelms our users. If our users cannot find the information they need quickly and easily, they become frustrated and often leave our online presence without the research help and resources they need. Discussing both the techniques and tools for usability testing and highlighting free and cheap alternatives to expensive usability tools,  librarians will leave the session with a better understanding of the importance of usability testing and take away concrete tools and techniques to engage their users in feedback, and ultimately resulting in improved library websites.